Tomato mosaic virus
Tomato mosaic and tobacco mosaic viruses are extremely stable and spread on hands, tools, clothing and seed rather than by insects. Leaves mottle and distort, sometimes into narrow fern shapes; fruit may ripen unevenly.
Viral diseases
What it looks like
Mottling with distortion.
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Mottled leaves Light and dark green patches. -
Fern-leaf Narrow, fern-like leaves at the top. -
Stunting Plants grow slowly and crop less. -
Uneven fruit Blotchy ripening or internal browning.
How to confirm it
Look at spread and handling.
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Mottling
Patchy greens rather than spots.
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Spread along a row
Follows handling, pinching and tying.
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No insects needed
Occurs even without aphids.
What to do
Remove and clean.
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Remove infected plants
Bin the plant and its roots.
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Wash hands and tools
Use soap; dip tools in disinfectant.
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Handle healthy plants first
Work on suspect plants last.
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Grow resistant varieties
Look for 'ToMV' or 'TMV' resistance on the seed packet.
Prevent it next time
- Buy clean seed and plants.
- Wash hands after handling tobacco.
- Clear debris and disinfect canes and pots.
What not to do
Do not smoke or handle tobacco and then tend tomatoes.
Sources
- Tomato: mosaic viruses, Washington State University Extension
- Tobamoviruses that affect tomato (TMV, ToMV, ToBRFV), NC State Extension