Persistence of Tomato Mosaic Virus in Tomato Debris and Soil Under Field Conditions. J. M. Lanter, Graduate Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701. J. M. McGuire and M. J. Goode, Professors, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701. Plant Dis. 66:552-555. Accepted for publication 25 August 1981. Copyright 1982 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-66-552.

The fruit necrosis strain of tomato mosaic virus (ToMV-FN) was recovered from tomato debris and soil in an experimental field where tomato infected with ToMV-FN had been grown the previous year. Healthy tomato transplanted to that field the following year became infected and developed typical fruit necrosis symptoms. ToMV was also recovered from debris and soil collected from fields in southeast Arkansas where fruit necrosis had occurred in Pinkwrap tomato from 1978 seed; the disease recurred the following year. Cultural practices affected the amount of debris present and disease recurrence, and in general, less tillage resulted in higher disease incidence. The effects of tillage and of a winter wheat cover crop were tested in a field where tomato uniformly infected with ToMV-FN had been grown. ToMV-FN was recovered from some plants in plots that received one tilling before healthy tomato seedlings were transplanted into them. One plant was infected in a plot that had a wheat cover crop. Environmental conditions were severe and atypical that season, and no fruit necrosis symptoms were observed. Seed transmission of ToMV-FN was demonstrated. ToMV-FN was serologically related to but different from tobacco mosaic virus and a commonly occurring “Purple” strain of ToMV (ToMV-P). Serologic tests indicated that mixed infections of ToMV-P and ToMV-FN occurred in plants from southeast Arkansas fields. This was also demonstrated in tomato mechanically inoculated with a mixture of the two strains.

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