Molecular Screening of Cotton Germplasm for Cotton Leaf Curl Disease Caused by Viral Strains.

Cotton crop is infected by single stranded DNA viruses (Family, Geminiviridae) in Pakistan. Due to changing global climate, which favors the whitefly (insect vector) growth and reproduction, the spread of cotton leaf curl disease is increasing at an alarming rate. Various approaches are being used to diagnose the ssDNA viruses in cotton. One step PCR protocol was established to identify the three viruses, namely cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV), Burewala strain of Kokhran virus (CLCuKo-Bur) and cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus (CLCuKoV). Thirty eight genotypes were screened on the basis of symptoms and molecular diagnosis. Out of 38 genotypes, 13 were positive for CLCuMuV, 24 were positive for Burewala strain and one was positive for both CLCuMuV and CLCuKoV-Bur strain. However, none of the samples was positives for cotton leaf curl Kokhran virus. Our experiments have established one step guide PCR for screening of cotton germplasm for major cotton infecting viruses. This diagnostic assay will promote the breeding programs for the development of resistant cotton varieties against cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]