Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus: an emerging begomovirus threatening tomato and cucurbit production

Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), a bipartite begomovirus first reported in Himachal Pradesh, India, has emerged as a major phytopathological threat to tomato and cucurbit cultivation across South Asia and the Middle East. Characterized by its high genetic adaptability and efficient whitefly-mediated transmission, ToLCPalV causes severe symptoms, including leaf curling, vein thickening, stunted growth, and especially flower abortion, leading to drastic yield losses and occasional total crop failure. Since its discovery, ToLCPalV's expanded host range includes cucurbits, legumes, and non-solanaceous crops, demonstrating its ecological versatility and transboundary dispersal potential. This review synthesises current knowledge on the virus's geographic distribution, genomic structure, virulence determinants, and molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. We also examine the role of vectors, natural reservoirs, and co-infections in shaping the epidemiology and evolution of the virus. Integrated disease management strategies, including cultural practices, Ty-gene-mediated resistance, biotechnological innovations like RNAi and CRISPR, and vector control, are critically evaluated. The review underscores the urgency of regionally coordinated surveillance, resistant cultivar deployment, and molecular research to combat this fast-spreading and economically important plant virus, and is particularly relevant as it brings together scattered insights on ToLCPalV, for which this will be the first comprehensive overview.