Vegetables Viruses

Viruses are a major cause of loss in many Australian vegetable crops. Often the intricate relationships between the virus, host plants and the vector, create problems in developing effective management systems.

Viruses are minute, non-cellular pathogens that multiply within the cells of their hosts. This is usually to the detriment of the host and results in the development of disease symptoms.

This 6 page factsheet provides information on plant viruses and how they are transmitted, and lists viruses of importance to the Australian vegetable industry.

Authors :
Denis Persley and Cherie Gambley (DEEDI-QLD)

Topics covered :

• What are viruses?
• How do plant viruses spread?
• Host plants
• Insect transmission
• How do viruses survive?
• How can you manage virus diseases?
• Important vegetable crops and the viruses infecting them
• Persistent and Non-persistent transmission

Key Points :

Most viruses infecting vegetables are transmitted by sap-sucking insects

• non-persistent transmission of viruses by insects is a rapid process
• persistent transmission takes several hours
• weed and other hosts are crucial in the life cycle of many viruses and their vectors
• infected plants cannot be cured—control aims to prevent or delay infection
• using a combination of management options can be successful in preventing infection.

See Also :

Viruses and Vegetables

Aphid transmitted viruses

Viruses transmitted by Thrips

Viruses transmitted by Whitefly

Tobamoviruses

Acknowledgements :

This technical reference note has been produced by Denis Persley and Cherie Gambley (DEEDI) as part of the Horticulture Australia Limited project VG-07128-Integrated management of viral diseases in vegetables.

This project has been facilitated by State Governments, and Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) in partnership with AUSVEG through the National Vegetable Research and Development Levy. The Australian Government provides matched funding for all HAL’s R&D activities.