The vibrant flowers and trailing vines of beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) are a beloved addition to coastal gardens. However, this popular plant can be susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus, a detrimental and highly contagious disease Fortunately, with preventative care and prompt action upon infection, beach morning glory growers can successfully manage tobacco mosaic virus In this article, we will explore the signs, transmission, and management strategies for tobacco mosaic virus on beach morning glory.
Understanding Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is one of the most widespread and infectious plant viruses. It earned its name by firstly being identified in tobacco crops, but can affect over 200 species of plants including tomatoes, peppers, orchids, and beach morning glories. The virus causes mottling, wilting, stunting, and other symptoms that can severely impact plant health.
TMV is easily transmitted through sap, infected gardening tools, and contact between plants It can survive on surfaces and hands for weeks or months Once a plant is infected, there is no cure for TMV – it will remain in the plant permanently. However, the good news is TMV does not infect humans or animals and is manageable with vigilance.
Recognizing Symptoms of TMV
Beach morning glory infected with TMV exhibits distinct symptoms to watch for:
- Mosaic patterns on leaves – Irregular splotches of light and dark green
- Leaves wrinkled, curled, or malformed
- Stunted growth
- Wilting despite watering
- Flowers smaller and fewer
- Brown spots or necrotic lesions on leaves
If you notice these warning signs, isolate the plant immediately to prevent viral spread. Send a sample to a diagnostic lab for testing to confirm TMV before taking action.
Preventing TMV Infection
Prevention is the most effective management strategy against TMV on beach morning glories. Here are key tips:
- Purchase only certified TMV-free plants and seeds – Inspect carefully
- Sterilize tools after working with infected plants
- Wash hands thoroughly after contact with affected plants
- Control insect pests like thrips that can transmit TMV
- Remove and destroy any infected plants promptly
- Avoid working with plants when they are wet
- Do not take cuttings from infected plants
Following strict preventative protocols can greatly reduce the likelihood of TMV taking hold in your beach morning glories.
Managing Infected Plants
If despite your best efforts, TMV is detected in your beach morning glories:
- Quarantine – Isolate infected plants immediately to prevent spread
- Remove infected plant material – Prune off affected leaves/stems
- Disinfect tools after every cut to avoid transmission
- Label infected plants
- Monitor frequently for new symptoms
- Rogue out badly infected plants and destroy completely
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling infected plants
Vigilance and proper sanitary practices are vital to contain TMV once it emerges.
Cultivate Stronger Plants
While TMV cannot be cured, you can help your beach morning glories better cope with infection by:
- Meeting water, light, and soil needs consistently
- Applying regular balanced fertilizer
- Pruning for optimal airflow and plant vigor
- Using mulch to prevent water stress
- Monitoring for pests like spider mites that can further weaken plants
Healthy, robust beach morning glories have the best chance of tolerating TMV, even if some symptoms manifest.
Consider Resistant Varieties
Some beach morning glory cultivars have demonstrated improved TMV resistance through selective breeding. Switching to resistant varieties can prevent initial infection. Ask your local nursery for recommended TMV-resistant options for your region.
Remain Diligent
Disease prevention and strict management protocols offer the best protection against tobacco mosaic virus for susceptible beach morning glories. Stay vigilant in inspecting plants, sterilizing tools, and containing infected specimens. With persistence and care, beach morning glory growers can successfully curb tobacco mosaic virus and maintain abundant blooms.
How to manage plant viruses in the greenhouse
Insect management is critical for managing tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus, while sanitation is the critical management strategy for tobacco mosaic virus.
In Part 1 of this article, Michigan State University Extension reviewed the background about some of the most common viruses (tobacco mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus and impatiens necrotic spot virus, Photos 1-3) that affect floriculture crops. Details of insect transmission of Tospoviruses were explained. The type of virus and its method of transmission impact the methods of management that should be implemented when a virus is detected on plants in a greenhouse.
Growers should inspect all incoming plant material for symptoms of viruses, including speckling, modeling, leaf curling, vein clearing, chlorosis and stunting. Unfortunately for growers, viruses can be present in plants that are asymptomatic or may not show symptoms for weeks after infection. If there is a known possibility of infected plant material coming into your facility, be extra vigilant when inspecting the plant material and randomly sample plants within each shipment and variety.
Growers can buy virus testing supplies for rapid in-house testing. This allows growers to easily test suspect material identified during scouting. Plants with ambiguous symptoms can yield a positive test result. Alternatively, samples can be sent to a local diagnostics lab, such as MSU Diagnostic Services. Continue to scout the plants during the crop cycle. If possible, quarantine the susceptible or suspicious plant material. If plants test positive for viruses, immediately throw them out as virus-infected plants cannot be cured.
When there is a virus present on plants in the greenhouse, sanitation of benches, floors, watering wands and any other equipment that may come in contact with plant material is critical. Be sure to remove all weeds under any benches in the greenhouse. The primary method of spread of tobacco mosaic virus is by plants touching each other or by hands carrying the virus after touching infected plants. It is critical that those who are touching the plants are regularly washing their hands with soap and water and after touching any suspicious plants or using tobacco products.
When sticking cuttings or transplanting plugs, make sure the plants are only touching non-permeable surfaces and regularly sanitize all surfaces the plants make contact. All employees sticking cuttings should regularly use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. MSU Extension recommends using a fresh solution of the disinfectant; be sure that the active ingredient of the product is stable enough to remain active while using it throughout the day.
Soaking areas is likely to be more effective than a “spray” or “spritz” application. Some growers use diluted dry milk, which has been shown to be effective in disinfecting tools and surfaces. Spraying milk directly onto plants to prevent virus transmission has also been shown to be effective. To read more about research findings with using milk as a disinfectant, read “Can applying milk to tools or plants be effective in reducing virus transmission?” For more information on other sanitation strategies read, “Sanitation Strategies for Greenhouse Growers.”
When trying to manage an occurrence of Tospoviruses (e.g., tomato spotted wilt virus or impatiens necrotic spot virus), management of aphid, whitefly and thrip populations are critical. As discussed in Part 1, these viruses are readily spread by insects. Western flower thrips are one of the primary vectors of these viruses. For conventional control, MSU recommends the following products for thrips control:
- Aria
- Distance
- Hachi-Hachi (do not use on impatiens or New Guinea impatiens)
- Mesurol
- Orthene 97
- Overture
- Pedestal
- Pylon
- Sanmite
For more information on how to manage tomato spotted wilt virus or impatiens necrotic spot virus, visit “Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus.” For more information on insecticide recommendations without using neonicotinoids, read “Greenhouse insect management without neonicotinoids.”
Insect control is not as critical in an outbreak of tobacco mosaic virus because insects are not the main vector of the virus. However, according to H.J. Walters, chewing insects like grasshoppers can vector tobacco mosaic virus, but those are not common in greenhouse production. Okada et al. reported that tobacco mosaic virus could be spread to non-infected plants by bumblebees after pollinating heavily infected plants. Also, if infected leaves have exposed sap or if insects break leaf hairs, aphids have been shown to be a possible vector of tobacco mosaic virus, but it is not a major method of spread.
For more information on tobacco mosaic virus, read “Tobacco Mosaic Virus of Tobacco” or “Tobacco mosaic virus.”
To learn more about tomato spotted wilt virus, tobacco mosaic virus, or impatiens necrotic spot virus on a greenhouse crop, please see Part 1 of this article, “Common types of viruses of floriculture crops and their modes of transmission.”
The author would like to thank Dave Smitley, Zsofia Szendrei and Jan Byrne for their reviews.
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FAQ
How to get rid of tobacco mosaic virus?
Can you save a plant from mosaic virus?
How can we control the tobacco mosaic virus?
How can you reduce the spread of tobacco mosaic virus?
How to prevent mosaic virus?
To help prevent the mosaic virus spread, it’s important to wash your hands with a disinfectant soap after handling any tobacco products, especially if you hand-roll. Avoid using tobacco products near plants. Finally, only buy seeds or plants from a reputable seller who inspects their stock regularly.
What is tobacco mosaic virus?
One of several mosaic virii out there, the tobacco mosaic virus (or TMV for short) has a somewhat misleading name. The virus was named after one of the first host plants it was discovered on but can infect 9 different plant families and over 325 different species, mainly in the Solanaceae family.
What is tobacco mosaic virus on Petunia?
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) on petunia. The basic life cycle of the virus is very much like the common cold. The virus can be passed from host to host or by mechanical transmission. Once the virus makes contact with a suitable host plant, it begins to replicate itself using the host plant’s cells.
How do you get rid of a mosaic virus?
If the plant was indoors, use a floor or carpet disinfectant after vacuuming the area (making sure to also disinfect the vacuum). To help prevent the mosaic virus spread, it’s important to wash your hands with a disinfectant soap after handling any tobacco products, especially if you hand-roll. Avoid using tobacco products near plants.