Artichoke mosaic virus

The causal agent is Macluravirus scolymus, a virus from the Potyviridae family. This virus is a serious phytopathogen that primarily affects plants in temperate and Mediterranean climates. It acts as a systemic infection that colonizes the host plant, disrupting its metabolic processes and normal leaf development.

The primary host for this virus is the globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus). While it mainly impacts cultivated crops, the virus can persist in wild relatives or susceptible weeds within the Asteraceae family. Understanding the host range is critical for managing the spread of the virus within farm environments.

Symptoms of the infection manifest as typical mosaic patterns on the foliage, characterized by light and dark green mottled areas. Infected plants often show stunted growth, distorted leaf blades, and reduced vigor. In later stages, the crop produces smaller and less marketable flower heads, which are the main agricultural product, leading to substantial economic losses.

Transmission occurs primarily through aphid vectors in a non-persistent manner. During feeding, the insects acquire the virus from infected tissues and transfer it to healthy plants within seconds or minutes. Additionally, the virus is spread through vegetative propagation, as using infected rootstocks or divisions ensures the virus is passed down to new generations of plants.

The damage caused by Macluravirus scolymus is irreversible, as there are no chemical pesticides to cure the viral infection once established. Control strategies must focus on preventative measures: sourcing certified virus-free planting material, maintaining strict insect control to suppress aphid populations, and rogueing infected plants early in the season to prevent further spread.

• Rogueing and destroying symptomatic plants.
• Managing aphid populations with systemic insecticides.
• Using only clean, laboratory-tested planting stock.
• Establishing spatial isolation from older, infected plantations.