tobacco mosaic virus on pepper

Symptoms

Light/dark green mosaic on leaves, narrowed and crinkled leaflets (fern-leaf), stunted growth, fruit with dark green/yellow patches and internal browning.

Plants affected

• bell pepper
• tobacco

Easily confused with

• pepper mild mottle virus

  How to tell them apart: Both are tobamoviruses giving leaf mosaic/mottling, both spread by contact and seed, and neither has a cure (remove plants, disinfect hands/tools). Tobacco mosaic virus: light/dark green mosaic, leaf distortion. Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV): typically OVERCOMES the pepper L-resistance gene and causes more fruit mottling, lumps and deformation; certain identification needs a lab test, so distinguish by fruit symptoms and resistance breakdown.

Common questions

How do I recognise tobacco mosaic virus on pepper on bell pepper?

Light/dark green mosaic on leaves, narrowed and crinkled leaflets (fern-leaf), stunted growth, fruit with dark green/yellow patches and internal browning.

Do I have to report tobacco mosaic virus on pepper?

No. tobacco mosaic virus on pepper is not a notifiable organism, so there is nothing to report to an authority. Treat it as a normal garden problem.

How is tobacco mosaic virus on pepper 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.