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Growth
Mosaic Virus in Bell Pepper
Commonly affects: Capsicum annuum, Grossum Group (Bell Pepper)
Leaves develop a mottled pattern of light and dark green patches, sometimes with distorted or narrowed leaf shape, and fruit may show discoloured blotches.
Potential Causes
- 1Various mosaic viruses, often spread by aphids or thrips, or through contaminated tools and hands
- 2No cure exists once a plant is infected
- 3Nearby infected weeds or other susceptible plants sometimes serving as a virus reservoir
Solution Steps
- 1Remove and destroy infected plants promptly to reduce the source of infection for insect vectors to spread further
- 2Control aphid and thrips populations, since these insects are the primary means of virus transmission between plants
- 3Sterilise tools between plants, and wash hands after handling tobacco products before touching pepper plants, since some mosaic viruses can be spread this way
- 4Choose virus-resistant varieties where available for future plantings
Prevention Tip
There's no cure for mosaic virus in peppers â prompt removal of infected plants and control of the aphids/thrips that spread it are the only effective responses.
