Tomato disease tobacco mosaic virus

The tobamoviruses are very stable viruses and can survive in plant debris for a number of years. These viruses are seldom seen in direct-seed fields. Use seed that has been treated to eliminate seedborne inoculum. Extreme sanitation is needed. The disease is difficult to control if the plants have to be handled.

For example, tomato mosaic virus most often infects tomatoes, but can also infect pepper, potato, apple, pear, cherry and numerous weeds, including pigweed and lamb's quarters. Tobacco mosaic virus can infect ornamentals and weeds including cucumber, lettuce, beet, pepper, tomato, petunia, jimson weed and horsenettle.

The symptoms for each virus on each host appear differently, though there are some commonalities. Remove plants that you suspect may be infected with a virus so they do not spread the virus in the garden. Do not compost them. Scout plants regularly. If plants displaying symptoms of viruses are found, remove the entire plant including roots , bag the plant, and send it to the University of Minnesota Plant Disease Clinic for diagnosis.

There are currently no chemical options that are effective against either virus. This can be seen on the stems, leaves, petioles and fruits. Brown and deepened strikes emerge on the stems and petioles, whereas on the leaves and fruits these stains are either circular or irregular. As a result of the attack, the leaves, stems and fruits are heavily deformed and the harvest is compromised.

The tomatoes that have grown from young leaves are deformed, as the leaflets are visibly deformed. The brown tomato insides is visible on green tomatoes or on the ones that have just started ripening.

The Tobacco mosaic virus reaches the tomatoes through infected seeds, or through the vegetal residues of the infected plants.

This virus is very resilient when it comes to dryness, as it can keep its germination properties even after 20 years. This virus can also survive on the dust and debris from the greenhouse structure.