Key Features
- Leaf yellowing/ discoloration
- Distortion of plant parts
- Stunting
Symptoms
Viruses cause a diversity of symptoms on landscape plants. Yellow or red rings, yellow spots or streaks, yellowing between leaf veins, dead spots, stunting and misshapen leaves are all common symptoms. Mosaic or mottling, where areas on the leaf are spotted or speckled in both healthy green tissue and yellow spots, is common with some virus/host combinations. Symptoms and host range of viruses overlap and there are no signs of the pathogen. Plant disease diagnostic labs can test for the presence of the most detrimental viruses.
Biology
Viruses are microscopic, disease causing agents. They move from plant to plant through insect or nematode feeding, contact between plant parts, or are moved by people or equipment. Plants that are highly susceptible to viruses may be killed shortly after infection. Other plants are able to tolerate low level infections. See tobacco mosaic, tobacco rattle, tomato spotted wilt, or cucumber mosaic for specific details.
Management Recommendations
No treatments are available for virus-infected plants. They should be removed to avoid spreading the virus within the landscape. If the virus is identified as an insect transmitted disease, controlling the insect will reduce the rate at which the virus spreads. Some viruses have a narrow host range and cause little damage. These may not require any action at all.
Effective Pesticides
Pesticides are neither available nor recommended for managing this disease.
Resources
- Not satisfied with ID? Contact the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab
- Sign Up for the Purdue Landscape Report
