Wilt Virus and Mosaic Virus

Views: 6255

While I’m quick to acknowledge that there really isn’t such thing as a “normal” season, this year is throwing a few unusual curve balls our way: like Wilt Virus and Mosaic Virus.

Spring came earlier than I ever remember. I was able to work in the garden as soon as March, which is practically unheard of in our region. But it wasn’t smooth sailing. We had plenty of nights of very chilly temperatures that slowed down growth of anything put in early (unless it was covered, of course), but when the warmer periods arrived it made vegetables grow exponentially. As a result, any early season crops, such as spinach, radishes and some lettuce, are already done.

And the pests are certainly thriving in the mild temperatures. I’ve never heard so many complaints about aphids, and the thrip population seems to be off the charts. I saw them early on in the crocuses, and have heard many reports of people having problems with them. Now I think they might be one of the causes for the leaf deformation in one of my tomato plants.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

I grafted a Nebraska Wedding Ring variety to Maxifort rootstock and have been keeping it in the greenhouse. While the tomato plant is big and robust, the leaves look horrible. After doing a bit of research (which will make your eyes cross), one possibility is it is Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. This is due to a thrip infestation.

The thrips have been terrible this year. Thrips spread the virus to the plants, and the leaves as a result become mottled and sometimes curl.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus

The other possibility is the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, which is not spread by thrips, but stays in the soil and is spread through contact.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus is one of the most common types of viruses that affect tomatoes, so there’s a pretty good possibility this could be the problem. I almost hope it’s the Spotted Wilt Virus instead of Mosaic Virus, because Tomato Mosaic Virus will stay in the soil for years and could be problematic for any plants in the Solanacea family, such as peppers, potatoes, and eggplant.

Preventing the Spread of Tomato Viruses

Either way, it doesn’t look good for the tomato plant. If the virus doesn’t kill it outright, it will deform the tomatoes and reduce the amount of fruit produced.

As much as I hate to pull out such an enormous plant, that’s what I have to do. I have a second grafted tomato in the greenhouse, and I certainly don’t want the virus (whichever one it is) to harm that plant. I also have my precious Carmen sweet peppers in the greenhouse, and definitely don’t want to lose them.

When I pull the tomato plant, I’ll place it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash. It won’t go on the compost heap, because the Tomato Mosaic Virus can withstand fairly high temperatures. So even if you have a compost pile that is cooking along nicely, it probably won’t kill the virus.

That said, I should probably get out there and pull it before I’m distracted by another task. It’s always terrible to lose a plant, especially a grafted tomato, but it’s better to be harsh now than to lose the whole bunch of them.

Meet Amy Grisak

Amy is a freelance author and photographer in Great Falls, MT who specializes in gardening, foods, and sustainable agriculture. She provides information on every kind…

Amy's Recent Posts

Leave hollow stems for native bees.
Hollow Stems for Native Bees: Leave the Garden a Little Messy
Read this post
It's important to know the allelopathic qualities of some garden plants, such as broccoli.
How to Know the Allelopathic Plants in Your Garden
Read this post

Amy's Videos

How to Safely Rid Your Indoor Plants of Pests
By Amy Grisak
Watch this video
Treating Fruit Trees for Fire Blight
Treating Fruit Trees for Fire Blight
By Amy Grisak
Watch this video

Membership Has Its Perks

Become a registered user and get access to exclusive benefits like...
  • Ask The Expert Questions
  • Newsletter Archive
  • PlantersPlace Magazine
  • Members Photo Gallery
  • Product Ratings & Reviews
  • Garden Club Samples

Here’s more information about gardening that you’re going to want