Arabis mosaic virus

Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), belonging to the Nepovirus genus, is a destructive plant pathogen known for its wide host range and significant economic impact. It causes diverse viral diseases in many vital agricultural, horticultural, and ornamental plant species worldwide.

This virus affects a broad variety of crops, including strawberries, raspberries, grapevines, hops, and various bulbous plants. Because of its ability to infect both annuals and long-lived perennials, it is considered a difficult pathogen to eradicate once established in the soil or local environment.

Common symptoms include ring patterns on foliage, mosaic patterns, yellowing, stunting, and overall plant decline. In many hosts, the virus inhibits normal development, leading to deformed fruits or poor flowering, which directly results in reduced commercial value and yield quality for the producer.

The virus is primarily transmitted by soil-inhabiting dorylaimid nematodes, specifically those in the Xiphinema genus. Transmission occurs during feeding, where the nematodes ingest the virus from infected roots and subsequently pass it to healthy plants. Additionally, the virus is spread through infected nursery stock.

Management strategies focus on preventing the introduction of the virus by using virus-indexed propagation material. Control of the nematode vectors in the soil through chemical treatments or long-term fallowing, combined with the rigorous removal of infected plants and surrounding weeds, remains the standard practice for disease prevention.