Looked at your petunias lately? If you find mottled or distorted leaves on your petunias, don’t be surprised when the diagnosis comes in: it just might be tobacco mosaic virus (TMV for short).
Researchers aren’t sure which TMV strain this is but TMV can infect bedding plants from calibrachoas and verbena to marigolds and mums. It could infect tomatoes and pepper transplants as well. Since this strain was found on petunia, calibrachoa, tomato and pepper should all be carefully inspected.
This virus is a born survivor and can survive on most any surface from dead plant debris to hoses to door handles — and your hands. And since TMV is easily transmitted by handling plants, sanitizing your hands and tools is essential. Milk is actually a good sanitizer for this disease — use a 20% solution of non-fat dry milk. Download this e-GRO alert on TMV.
