Several viruses can infect canola and mustard, including Cauliflower mosaic virus, Turnip mosaic virus, and Beet western yellows virus among others. Most are transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner, meaning the aphids acquire and transmit the virus within seconds of feeding. Viruses must overwinter in a living host, namely a host plant or their aphid vector.
Symptoms of virus infection vary; typical symptoms include mosaic patterns on leaves, stunting, leaf deformation, and chlorosis. Yield losses depend on the virus, host, and timing of infection.
Biological control strategies have not been developed for viruses infecting canola and mustard.
Plant resistant varieties, if available. Control weeds in and around fields that serve as alternate hosts for aphid vectors and virues. Increasing planting population may reduce the incidence of some viruses. Trap-crops and border crops have proven effective in reducing losses from aphid-vectored non-persistent viruses in other cropping systems.
Insecticides have little or no effect on viruses transmitted in a non-persistent manner, as are many canola and mustard viruses.
Categories: Canola and Mustard, Disease, Virus Diseases
Date: 12/31/2004