Soybean
Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus
BYMV
Virus
5 mins to read
In a Nutshell
- Tip discoloration, presence of mosaic and development of yellow patches.
- Less developed pods Stunted growth.
Soybean
Symptoms
Symptoms vary greatly depending on the virus type, the crop and the varieties in question, the stage of growth at the time of infection and the environmental conditions. On leaves, they include tip discoloration, streaks, and development of yellow patches. However, the most conspicuous sign of all is the contrasting yellow and green mottling on the foliage. In some cases, the areas of dark green tissue become raised over the surrounding yellow tissue. The clearing of vein may also occur in some crops. Leaves may deform as a consequence of uneven growth, and margin can curl downward. Even though pods do not seem to be directly affected, they often are less developed or deformed and have fewer seeds. Overall, plants present a stunted growth.
Recommendations
Organic Control
Control of aphid populations is essential to control the transmission of bean mosaic virus. Check the underside of the leaves for aphids and, if found, treat immediately with an insecticidal soap, neem oil or organic products based on pyrethroids. Predators feeding on aphids can also be used.
Chemical Control
Always consider an integrated approach with preventive measures together with biological treatments if available. There are no treatments against viruses and a full control of the population of aphids is difficult. In fact, aphids are not killed rapidly enough to prevent virus spreading. Mineral oil (1%), either used alone or mixed with insecticides, considerably reduce the spread of the virus. However, they are expensive and treatments must be repeated frequently to protect newly developing shoots. Plant yield can also be reduced.
What caused it?
The symptoms are caused by the bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Often there is a co-infection with other viruses, explaining the variety of symptoms, for example Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). In addition to beans, it can also infect other important legume crops such as peanuts, soybeans, broad beans. Several species of clover, alfalfa and lupine can also serve as overwintering hosts. Other non-leguminous host plants include some flowers, like the gladiolus. The virus is mainly transmitted from plant to plant via an insect vector, although there is some suspicion that it could also be seed-borne. More than twenty species of aphids can carry it in a non-persistent manner. It can also spread via grafting with contaminated plant parts or mechanical inoculation.
Preventive Measures
- Make sure to plant healthy seeds or plants from certified sources.
- Use resistant plants, if available.
- Increase plant density to make the canopy more dense.
- Make sure not to plant beans near alfalfa, clover, or other legumes or flowers such as gladiolus.
- Use of cereal strips around the field as a barrier crop.
- Use plastic or organic mulch to disrupt the life cycle of the aphids.
- Keep the fields and surrounding clear of weed.
- Keep the use of insecticides low in order to promote beneficial insects.
- Plan a crop rotation, especially if the field has an history of infection in the past.
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