Damage Symptoms

Symptoms vary greatly depending on the virus strains involved. The virus often causes stunting of the plant, giving it a bushy appearance. Leaves may show a mild green mottling or more severe shoestring-like leaf blade. Severely affected plants produce few fruit, which are usually small, with delayed maturity.


Conditions for Development

Wide host range; numerous weeds can serve as reservoirs for CMV and contribute to its spread to crops. More than 60 aphid species are capable of transmitting CMV. It is not carried in tomato seeds but can be carried in the seeds of 19 other plant species. CMV is easily mechanically transmitted, but workers touching infected plants do not transmit it.