A variety of viruses infect tomatoes.  |
Tomato spotted wilt of tomato Symptoms: Infected plants are stunted. Leaves may be mottled, and often have circular raised, yellow zones. Foliage may turn purplish-brown. Photo by Plant Disease Clinic |
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Tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) of tomato Symptoms: This disease is commonly transmitted by smokers handling the fruit. Photo by Plant Disease Clinic |
| Causal organism: | There are several different types of virus that infect tomato. |
| Over wintering: | Dependent on variety of virus. Reservoirs can be seed born or solanaceaous perennial weeds like nightshade. |
| Months of infection: | Anytime |
| Method of dispersal: | Dependent on type of virus, but dispersal can be through infected seed, human contact, vectored by aphids, thrips or leafhoppers. |
| Infection point: | Seedborne, or through wounds caused by vector feeding (rare in Minnesota) |
| Control: | Use resistant cultivars. Look for a "TMV" designation for TMV resistance. |
| Labeled fungicides | None |
| Comments: | Use of disease resistant varieties is the best way to control this disease. |
| For Additional Information | Back to Tomato Diseases |
