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Tobacco stunt and lettuce big‐vein viruses: biology, economic impact and control 1
Author(s) -
HIRUKI C.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2338.1989.tb00421.x
Subject(s) - biology , zoospore , mycelium , fungus , virus , host (biology) , fungicide , spore , agronomy , horticulture , virology , botany , ecology
Two soil‐borne virus diseases, tobacco stunt and lettuce big‐vein, have many unique features in common, such as highly sensitive temperature dependency for disease development, in vivo acquisition of virus by the fungus vector Olpidium brassicae , long‐term persistence of virus in the fungal resting spores, extreme instability of virus in vitro , dsRNA and coat protein unique for rod‐shaped viruses, and others. Recent changes in agricultural practices have increased the incidence of these old diseases, in particular lettuce big‐vein, causing serious damage to industry. Frequent incidence of the latter has been reported from intensively managed glasshouses and from the use of soil‐free environments, where plants were grown with circulating liquid nutrients on certain support matrices. Chemical control of O. brassicae , particularly at the zoospore stage, appears feasible by continuous application of certain fungicides and/or non‐ionic liquid surfactants that are effective in killing virus‐transmitting zoospores. In the long term, breeding of cultivars resistant to the fungus or to both the fungus and virus, and biological control of the vector with other rhizosphere‐inhabiting microorganisms may be possible.