Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) found on tomato in New Jersey

Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) was found on fresh-market tomato this past week in southern New Jersey. TSV has a host range of close to 200 species, including cranberry, tobacco, tomato, pepper, asparagus, bean, soybean, mustard, radish, a number of ornamental hosts as well as weeds such as thistle, field bindweed, and jimson weed. Like Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV), the Tobacco Streak Virus is also vectored by thrips. TSV can be seed-borne (reported in some hosts), spread via pollen, and mechanically transmitted. Symptoms can vary significantly depending on the host. Infected plants may have downward leaf curling, show black streaks on leaves and stems, chlorosis, stunted growth, deformed growing tips, ring spots, and flower drop. There is no genetic resistance to TSV in tomato and management should focus on keeping thrips populations as low as possible, scouting on a regular, removing infected plants, and knowing your weed population (as a potential source). The only method to correctly identify TSV is through serological tests such as ELISA.

For more information on Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus please click here.

Nursery Pest and Disease Update 6/15/2023

In this edition:

  • Insects:
    • MORE Scale crawlers emerging
    • Borers
    • Beetles
  • Diseases:
    • Oomycete root diseases (Phytophthora, Pythium, Phytopythium)
    • Leaf spots / foliage diseases
    • Boxwood Blight – reminder
    • Virus observations
  • Nutrient Management 
    • Managing Soluble Salts by monitoring EC
    • Plant Tissue analysis
  • Plant Spotlight:
    • American Holly (Ilex opaca)
  • Cumberland Nursery / NJNLA – Twilight: tonight (6/15) for NURSERYMEN ONLY (contact twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu or 856-451-2800 Ext. 1. for details)

Please click “read more” below to get updates on pests, diseases, and other important resources for the week of 6/15/2023.

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Landscape X-Men

The mighty hosta is no super hero, but its nemesis Hosta virus X sure is. Hosta virus X (HVX) is a rather new disease of hosta that has become a regular visitor to the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. We get samples of hosta with the disease once or twice every summer, usually from a nursery, and we just got this year’s supply.

LIne patterns caused by Hosta virus X. Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL

Line patterns caused by Hosta Virus X. Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL

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Alfalfa and Pachysandra Together Again?

Among the boxwood blight scare come samples of pachysandra with small yellow leaf spots. And rightly so–landscape contractors and residential clients alike are worried that they have a disease in the lowly pachysandra that will move into their fancy boxwood garden. [Read more…]