Artichoke latent virus

Artichoke latent virus (ALV) is a destructive plant pathogen belonging to the Potyvirus genus. It causes a latent or symptomatic viral disease that significantly impacts artichoke crops worldwide. Because viruses are systemic pathogens, once a plant is infected, the virus spreads through its vascular system, eventually affecting the entire plant and its reproductive organs.

The primary host for this pathogen is the Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus). However, the virus is known to infect a wide range of plants within the Asteraceae family. These plants often serve as alternative hosts, acting as reservoirs that sustain the virus in the environment throughout the year, even when artichoke plants are not actively growing.

The most common symptoms include chlorotic mottling, mosaic patterns on leaves, and occasional leaf distortion. In severe cases, the entire plant may show reduced vigor, stunted growth, and lower yields of flower heads. It is important to note that some plants might be asymptomatic carriers, which makes them particularly dangerous as they can spread the disease without being noticed by the grower.

Transmission occurs primarily through aphid vectors, which transmit the virus in a non-persistent manner while feeding on plant sap. Furthermore, the virus can be spread mechanically through agricultural practices, such as pruning or vegetative propagation. Contaminated tools and the use of infected rhizomes for planting are the most common human-mediated routes of disease spread within and between fields.

Managing Artichoke latent virus requires a rigorous approach centered on prevention, as there are no chemical pesticides that can cure a viral infection. Growers should focus on the following strategies:

• Sourcing healthy, virus-indexed propagation material.
• Managing aphid populations with effective insecticide programs.
• Sanitizing pruning tools with approved disinfectants between plants.
• Rogueing and removing symptomatic plants promptly to reduce local inoculum.
• Maintaining a weed-free buffer zone around the crop area to eliminate reservoir hosts.