The control of plant viruses such as Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), Potato Virus Y (PVY), and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) is essential for yield and quality in pepper production. The impact of these diseases is increased where the Green Bridge effect occurs. This takes place when the virus is able to survive on alternate hosts such as weeds, volunteer plants or previous crop residue before infecting new crops.
In a study conducted by Starke Ayres and the Agricultural Research Council in the Letsitele district of Limpopo Province, leaf samples from sweet peppers and surrounding weeds confirmed the presence of CMV in local Solanaceous weeds, demonstrating that these weeds can be a source of infection for commercial pepper plants.
Effective virus management practices include measures to break the Green Bridge and protect pepper crops. For more on virus-resistant pepper varieties and best practices, contact your Starke Ayres representative.
Key Pepper Viruses and Their Hosts
Insect vectors are the primary transmission agents of these viruses. Aphids are particularly important for CMV and PVY transmission and thrips for TSWV. Vector control is therefore a vital component of any management strategy
