VIEW ARTICLE

Natural Occurrence of Sowthistle Yellow Vein Virus on Lettuce. James E. Duffus, Plant Pathologist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, United States Research Station, Salinas, California, Davis 95616; F. W. Zink(2), and Roy Bardin(3). (2)Specialist in the Experiment Station, Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis 95616; (3)Plant Pathologist, Monterey County Department of Agriculture, Salinas, California 93901. Phytopathology 60:1383-1384. Accepted for publication 7 April 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1383.

Sowthistle yellow vein virus (SYVV), described from California and the British Isles on Sonchus oleraceus, has been found in a high percentage of Lactuca sativa plants in some fields in the Salinas Valley. Symptoms induced by SYVV on field lettuce are characterized by veinclearing and vein yellowing, especially of the tips of affected leaves. Field observations indicate that the virus can cause stunting of affected plants and crop loss. Sowthistle is the principal source of the virus and the vector, Hyperomyzus lactucae, from which lettuce is infected. There is no evidence that the virus is seed-borne in lettuce.