Turnip mosaic virus

Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is a Potyvirus of the family Potyviridae that causes diseases in cruciferous plants, among others, but is most damaging in Chinese cabbage, turnip, mustard, and radish. The virus is usually spread by 40-50 species of aphids in a non-persistent manner.

Symptoms
Infected plants, especially the natural hosts, show symptoms such as chlorotic local lesions, mosaic of light and dark green colors in the leaves, mottling, puckering or rugosity. Depending upon the virus strain and the crop species, necrotic streaks, flecks, or ringspots may also occur.

Cabbage
Necrotic spots and ringspots are the primary symptom in common cabbage, but the severity of symptoms is cultivar dependant.

Chemical Control
Use of insecticidal sprays in crop fields are generally not effective in reducing virus spread.

Cultural Control
Avoid planting overlapping crops of species susceptible to TuMV. Resistant cultivars of Chinese cabbage are available, but none are resistant to all 5 strains known to occur in this crop.