Potato mosaic virus

[mysteryduck]

Is this potato mosaic virus? Originally I thought maybe some feed had got on the leaves, but now it looks like it might be spreading to another plant. What do you guys think?

If it is mosaic... should I cut the infected leaves off the other plant and remove this one? Should I remove both plants?

[Mr Bones]

After a quick Google search, sorry to say it looks like potato mop-top virus but I could be wrong.

[mysteryduck]

After a quick Google search, sorry to say it looks like potato mop-top virus but I could be wrong.

Oh no! Thanks for the advice. Though I can’t seem to find much information on either virus, it’s good to have an ID.

I was hoping it was some kind of leaf bleaching from fertiliser and so had isolated the plant and cut off affected leaves, to test whether the patterning would return.

I’ll definitely remove it now. I guess the benefit of growing in buckets is that it’s less likely to have spread to other plants. Fingers crossed anyway.

[nickdub]

Hi MD,
I'm none too sure, as in all likelihood it is just a bit of damage due to bleaching from fertiliser as you say, on the other hand if it was mine I'd bin it, on the grounds of the risk/reward ratio being too high to keep it.

[Snoop Puss]

How would one dispose of a plant and soil in cases like this?

[bikermike]

Is there an illustrated guide to potato ailments? Some of mine are curling up at the edges- not sure if it's a disease or something else. Unlikely to be fertiliser burn (as they haven't been fertilised)

[nickdub]

How would one dispose of a plant and soil in cases like this?

top and roots in the Council green waste - dig a 2' hole and bury the compost would be my method.

[Jungle Jane]

We’re the potatoes from a supermarket (maybe you want to put the whole pots worth in a bag in your grey bin so if it is a virus it doesn’t contaminate the green waste & get it out of your garden).
Edit -If they’re seed potatoes they should be disease free.

[Snoop Puss]

top and roots in the Council green waste - dig a 2' hole and bury the compost would be my method.

This is why I asked. According to various websites, soil is a vector for this virus, which is why I'd be worried about burying the compost. I found this:
"PMTV is spread by spores of the powdery scab pathogen Spongospora subterranea. Powdery scab favours moist soil and cooler temperatures ranging from 11 to 15 C. PMTV is widespread in parts of both North and South America, and can remain alive for up to 18 years in soil within fungal spores or in host plants."

I have to say, I was assuming it was something like magnesium deficiency. Where did you get the potatoes from?

Bikermike, there are lots of websites that have photos of symptoms of mineral deficiencies and diseases in potatoes. This one looks to be quite good on nutrient deficiencies as you can see a set of photos alongside each other and compare:
https://www.yara.co.uk/crop-nutritio...cies-potatoes/

[bikermike]

Thanks Snoopers!

I may have potassium deficiency.

[Miss Mousetrousers]

Just replied to a post on another forum about a possible virus infection. As far as I know if the green and yellowing on the leaves have some sort of definite pattern then it's a soil deficiency. I've just giggled images for this and it is possible that's what you have. See what others think.

[nickdub]

This is why I asked. According to various websites, soil is a vector for this virus, which is why I'd be worried about burying the compost. I found this:
"PMTV is spread by spores of the powdery scab pathogen Spongospora subterranea. Powdery scab favours moist soil and cooler temperatures ranging from 11 to 15 C. PMTV is widespread in parts of both North and South America, and can remain alive for up to 18 years in soil within fungal spores or in host plants."

I have to say, I was assuming it was something like magnesium deficiency. Where did you get the potatoes from?

Bikermike, there are lots of websites that have photos of symptoms of mineral deficiencies and diseases in potatoes. This one looks to be quite good on nutrient deficiencies as you can see a set of photos alongside each other and compare:
https://www.yara.co.uk/crop-nutritio...cies-potatoes/

Its true that a lot of diseases are soil born, but personally I wouldn't worry about burying suspect compost, as long as I wasn't planting anything from the same family in that area - ie if burying potato compost I'd happily plant courgettes on top of it, but not tomatoes.

[Martin H]

I noticed a similar thing on one of my potato plants today. It's Desirée, certified seed grown in fresh multipurpose compost, so a virus would be very unlucky. It's about time to start feeding with tomato fertilizer so I'll see whether it goes away.

[nickdub]

I noticed a similar thing on one of my potato plants today. It's Desirée, certified seed grown in fresh multipurpose compost, so a virus would be very unlucky. It's about time to start feeding with tomato fertilizer so I'll see whether it goes away.

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The marks on the leaves on your plants look a lot more like a deficiency pattern to me - pretty typical for it to be regular and near the end of the leaves.

[mysteryduck]

They're seed potatoes and the compost is fresh. I cut off the affected leaves and thought about leaving the bucket in an isolated location to see if more leaves would yellow (to see whether it was fertiliser burn or viral infection). But I think it might be safer to dispose of it. It's only a little bucket and I have more in potato grow sacks, so not worth the risk. Thanks all for your advice!