Disease guide

Typically, leaves of infected plants develop a mottle or mosaic with dark-green vein banding. Plants infected when young usually are stunted, with dark-green streaks on stems. Most flowers drop before fruit set. Affected fruit may be mottled and deformed. Symptom severity is dependent upon the variety, infecting strain and age of the host at the time of infection. Eggplant can be infected, but remains asymptomatic.

Peppers, tobacco, tomatoes and weeds such as Physalis spp. are hosts of ChiVMV. Tropical climates support the continuous presence of ChiVMV and its vectors. ChiVMV is transmitted by several species of aphids in a non-persistent manner and can also be transmitted mechanically through pruning and grafting. There is no evidence of seed transmission.

Use resistant varieties and virus-free transplants. Manage aphid populations using reflective mulches, stylet oil sprays and insecticides. Controlling the aphid vector population with chemical treatment is very difficult and generally provides limited control. In mature plants, it is difficult to achieve complete insecticide coverage of leaves to effectively eradicate all aphids.