PVY – Potato Virus Y
Type: Virus - Potyvirus
Potato Virus Y is a disease that affects the growth of peppers. Symptoms include green mosaic on leaves, leaf malformation, and leaf mottling. There may be severe stunting of the plants, and sometimes death of plants. The virus can cause substantial crop loss. The virus is transmitted by aphids. The virus survives for long periods in infected weeds. Mild winter temperatures favor survival of the virus, thus the disease can be greater the following spring. The infected plants should be removed and burned to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 3 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year. Insecticides for aphids early in the season can control the disease. Keep the fields weed free. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.
TEV – Tobacco Etch Virus
Type: Virus - Potyvirus
Tobacco Etch Virus is a disease that affects the growth of peppers. This disease is most common in Canada, the USA (including Hawaii), Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Symptoms include crinkling of leaves, reduction in size of leaves, leaves are distorted and mottled, vein clearing, necrotic lines or etching, and severe stunting of the plant. Peppers are mottled and do not reach full size. In severe cases, wilting and death of the plant can occur. The virus can cause substantial crop loss. The virus is transmitted by aphids and can spread mechanically. The virus survives for long periods in plant debris. Mild winter temperatures favor survival of the virus, thus the disease can be greater the following spring. The infected plants should be removed and burned to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 3 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year. Keep your garden weed free. Disinfect tools, stakes, and equipment. Wash clothing that comes into contact with the infected plants. Use screen house with 32 mesh or greater to keep out aphids. Insecticides for aphids can control the disease. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.
TMV – Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Type: Virus - Potyvirus
Tobacco Mosaic Virus is a world-wide virus disease that affects the growth of eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes. Tobacco mosaic virus may cause significant losses in the field and in the greenhouse. The virus does not usually kill the plant, but it does cause damage to flowers, leaves, and the tomato. Symptoms include stunted or dwarfed plants, yellow-green mottling, blistering of the leaves, a light-green and dark-green mosaic pattern on the leaves, leaf distortion and curling of the leaves, fernleafing, and reduced growth rate and yields. Blooms may have brown streaks. Pepper plants may have yellow spotting on the leaves. Slightly sunken brown rings will appear on tomatoes. The virus is spread primarily by mechanical methods. The virus is not spread by aphids. Smokers can infect plants by handling them. Gardeners contaminate the plants when they touch tobacco products or infected plants or weeds and spread the virus to healthy plants. The virus can stay alive in dead plant material for long periods of time. It can survive on infected seeds, plant debris, and even clothing for months or years. Tobacco mosaic is one of the most highly persistent tomato diseases because it can remain viable for many years and is able to withstand high heat. The virus can survive for up to 50 years in dried plant debris. The infected plants should be removed and buried or burned to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 3 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year. Keep your garden weed free. Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect tools. Try to avoid smoking while working in the garden. Spraying plants with 20 percent nonfat dry milk has been shown to be somewhat effective in preventing the spread of the virus. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.