sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV)

Symptoms

Faint pale or chlorotic spots, irregular feathery patterns along the veins and purple-ringed chlorotic spots appear on the leaves; symptoms are often mild on their own but become severe when the plant also carries a second virus, stunting growth and cracking or distorting the storage roots. Many infected plants look almost normal, which is how the virus spreads unnoticed.

Plants affected

• sweet potato

Common questions

How do I recognise sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) on sweet potato?

Faint pale or chlorotic spots, irregular feathery patterns along the veins and purple-ringed chlorotic spots appear on the leaves; symptoms are often mild on their own but become severe when the plant also carries a second virus, stunting growth and cracking or distorting the storage roots. Many infected plants look almost normal, which is how the virus spreads unnoticed.

Do I have to report sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV)?

No. sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) treated?

Mainly with biological and cultural measures — removing affected material, changing the conditions that favour it, and treating with agents approved in your country. The exact steps and their timing depend on the plant, the season and where you live: Dr. Phyto works them out in a free diagnosis.