Central Idea

Tomato growers in Maharashtra and Karnataka have reported significant yield losses due to the impact of two different Mosiac Viruses.
The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) has affected tomato crops in Maharashtra, while the tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) has been blamed for crop losses in Karnataka and other South Indian states.

	Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV)	Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)
Target Plants	Various plants, including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and ornamentals	Plants in the Solanaceae family, including tobacco, tomatoes, peppers, etc.
Transmission	Aphids, seeds, mechanical contact, infected plant debris	Direct contact, mechanical transmission, contaminated plant material
Symptoms	Mosaic patterns, yellowing, stunted growth, leaf curling, distorted fruits or flowers	Mosaic patterns, yellowing, leaf curling, stunted growth
Impact on Crops	Reduced yield and quality	Reduced yield, impact on flavor and quality
Longevity	Not specified	Long-term viability in dried plant debris, tobacco products, contaminated surfaces
Control Measures	Vector control, seed selection, crop rotation	Crop rotation, sanitation, virus-free seeds/seedlings, cultural practices
Curability	No cure, management focuses on prevention	No cure, management focuses on prevention

Impact on Tomato Crops

Symptoms of ToMV: Infected plants exhibit alternating yellowish and dark green areas, blisters on leaves, leaf distortion, twisting of younger leaves, necrotic spots on fruits, and reduced fruit setting.
Symptoms of CMV: Leaf distortion, with top and bottom leaves most affected, mosaic-like patterns of yellow and green spots in cucumber, fruit deformation, and reduced production in tomato.

ToMV: Ensuring biosafety standards in nurseries, seed treatment, careful inspection of saplings before planting, continuous monitoring for infection, and removal of infected plants are crucial.
CMV: Due to its wide host range, controlling aphids becomes essential. Measures include spraying quick-acting insecticides or mineral oils, monitoring aphid migration, and clearing fields of weeds and plant material that may harbor the virus.