Contents
What is the tobacco mosaic virus?
The tobacco mosaic virus or TMV is a plant disease of viral character.
Although it does not destroy the plants it weakens them. Its presence is noted in the wrinkled, folded or elongated form of the leaves. Preventive measures are imposed to avoid contagion.
To which plants does the tobacco mosaic virus affect?
The tobacco mosaic virus can infect:
- Tobacco and other plants of the Solanaceae family (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc.)
- Other vegetables, such as green leafy vegetables , bulbs and legumes (onions, potatoes, soy, beans, celery, etc.)
How is the tobacco mosaic virus manifested?
The most characteristic symptoms are:
- Loss of color between the veins of the young leaves that later increase to form the typical speckling of mosaic viruses
- Leaves may appear folded, wrinkled, elongated or with large brown patches. Especially in times of great heat and dryness
- Brown spots on the skin of the fruits.
- Brown spots on the pulp of the fruits ..
- Lack of development of the plant.
- Dark spots on the petioles of the leaves
- Dark spots on the stems
How is the tobacco mosaic virus transmitted?
It is done by contact. Through the contact of the plant with contaminated tools, through the own hands of the workers, etc.
How is the tobacco mosaic virus treated?
- It has no treatment.
- There are also no resistant varieties to this type of mosaic
- It is necessary to adopt an adequate prevention to prevent infection.
- Clean your hands and disinfect your clothes and tools (Introduce them for half an hour in a 3% preparation of trisodium phosphate. You can also use soap and water
- Dip your hands in milk while handling the seedlings for the microorganisms to get stuck in it .
- Eliminate infected plants as soon as possible.
- Clean your hands before handling healthy plants.
More information on plant viruses and other diseases
This article was endorsed by Julián Masats - Technical agricultural engineer specialized in horticulture and gardening.
