New insect-borne virus diseases affecting chickpeas in the Arab region and potential approaches to manage them

Viruses causing yellowing/stunting are the most important viral diseases affecting chickpea in many regions of the world including Arab countries. These diseases were thought for many years to be mainly caused by the infection with Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) which belong to the genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae. Recently, it has clearly shown that there are a number of Polerovirus species (e.g. Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus, Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus, and Beet western yellows virus), can cause yellowing/stunting symptoms in chickpea in West Asia and North Africa countries. Lately, virus epidemics were reported from these countries, sometimes causing considerable yield reduction. It was found that epidemic spread of these diseases was always associated with high aphid vector populations and activity. Although virus disease management can be achieved through the combined effects of several approaches, development of resistant genotypes is, undoubtedly, one of the most promising control components. Experience gathered over the last few decades clearly showed that no single method of virus disease control suffices to reduce yield losses in chickpea crops. Some progress was made in the disease management of some chickpea viruses using a combination of healthy seed, host resistance, cultural practices (e.i. adjustment of planting date, plant density, rouging of infected plants early in the season) and chemical vector control.