Potato X

Mechanically transmitted with no known insect vectors

Foliar symptoms of infection include necrotic spots, distortion and ringspots. Mosaic symptoms may also develop in eggplant. Affected leaves are small and may eventually drop. Plants appear stunted and bushy. Fruit that develop are small and distorted, and yield can be reduced.

Potatoes, tomatoes and Brassica spp. are common hosts of this virus, and often serve as sources of infection from adjacent fields or volunteer plants. Introduction and spread of PVX is largely due to movement of personnel and equipment. Cultural practices such as transplanting, grafting, staking and pruning, as well as plant-to-plant contact, contribute to the spread of this disease.

Problems in peppers are infrequent. Roguing infected plants, and sanitation of equipment and tools can help reduce the spread of this virus in peppers and eggplant. Do not follow a field of potatoes with peppers or eggplant.