Deciphering the Genetic Architecture of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Resistance in Cotton: From Resistance Mechanisms to Molecular Breeding and Genome

Abstract

One of the most significant natural fiber crops in the world is cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), but its productivity is severely limited by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, a deadly phloem-feeding insect that triggers direct feeding damage and spreads Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD), which results in significant yield and financial losses globally.Chemical pesticides are still the major management approach, but their widespread usage has accelerated insecticide resistance, upset ecological balance, and raised production costs, underscoring the critical need for long-lasting hostplant resistance.By incorporating recent developments in plant defense mechanisms, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), resistance genes, transcriptomics, molecular markers, and contemporary breeding technologies, this review thoroughly summarizes the current understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of whitefly resistance in cotton.The morphological, biochemical, and molecular defense mechanisms, candidate resistance genes, marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, CRISPR/Cas-based editing, and multiomics techniques that are transforming resistance breeding are given special attention.Along with discussing the significance of integrated pest management in maintaining resistance, the paper critically looks at some of the main obstacles, such as the polygenic nature of resistance, interactions with the environment, genetic variety of whiteflies, and the scarcity of resistant germplasm.In conclusion, high-throughput genomics, genome editing, artificial intelligence-assisted phenotyping, and climateresilient breeding techniques are identified as future research goals.This analysis offers a thorough framework for creating resilient whitefly-resistant cotton cultivars that can enable sustainable cotton production under shifting climatic conditions by fusing traditional breeding with cutting-edge molecular technology.