ToMV – Tomato Mosaic Virus
Type: Virus - Tobamovirus
Tomato Mosaic Virus is a world-wide virus disease that affects the growth of peppers and tomatoes. Symptoms include dark green mottling or mosaic appearance on the leaves, yellowing of leaves, and stunting of the plant. The leaves tend to be fern-like and younger leaves may be twisted. The tomatoes will will be deformed and have yellow spots and the interior is brown. Infected plants usually wilt and die. It can cause significant yield loss and even total crops losses. It is a seed-borne virus and can be spread by farm equipment, workers, clothing, and contaminated tools. The disease can stay alive in dead plant material for long periods of time. The infected plants should be removed and destroyed to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 2 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year, as the disease can survive in over winter on crop debris for 50 years. Keep your garden weed free. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.