The appearance and spread of mosaic infection in the tomato crop and the relation to seed transmission of the virus

Abstract

Appearance and spread of infection with mosaic‐inducing viruses were studied for three seasons in tomato crops under glass. Comparison was made between the reactions of plants raised from virus‐free seed and those of plants raised from virus‐infected seed, on plots distributed at random in a house in which no precautions against entry and spread of virus were taken. Freedom from mosaic infection was maintained longest in plants raised from virus‐free seed. An experiment was carried out after steam sterilization of the soil and under exceptionally favourable weather conditions. Appearance of mosaic symptoms occurred later in the life of the plants in this season and plants raised from virus‐free seed did not react differently from other plants.The location of plants first showing mosaic symptoms was related to the depth and texture of soil beneath those plants.Tests were made of the apparent virus content of infected tomato seed during germination and differences were found in the persistence of virus during germination in seeds of differing origin.Apparent, ‘delayed’ seed transmission of mosaic‐inducing viruses occurs in the tomato crop, but as yet, this condition can only be interpreted in terms of differences in the resistance of plants raised from seed of differing origin to the multiplication and systemic spread of those viruses. The use of virus‐free seed taken from well‐nourished vigorous plants is essential to the production of a virus‐free tomato crop under commercial conditions.