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The ease of transmission of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to tobacco plants by workers who intentionally contaminated their hands with the virus prior to transplanting tobacco seedlings is shown on the image labeled 'no control.' Tobacco plants that were transplanted after the worker's TMV-contaminated hands were washed in milk were not infected with TMV, as shown by the row of plants labeled 'milk.' The tobacco cultivar is Clemson PD-4. Hand washing with milk or soap and water reduced the incidence of TMV by 95 or 100%, respectively. A comprehensive program of hand washes, sanitation, rotation, rogueing infected plants, and use of resistance varieties is suggested to control TMV in tobacco.
Photograph courtesy J. P. Krausz.
© Copyright 2001 by The American Phytopathological Society
