Alfalfa mosaic virus
alfalfa yellow spot
Alfalfa virus 1 and 2, Lucerne mosaic virus, Marmor medicaginis, Potato calico virus, Alfalfa yellow spot
Worldwide
Widespread
2025-11-25
virus
Sudan, Mexico
Wide host range, infecting at least 697 species in 167 genera of 71 families
AMV000
Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) occurs worldwide and infects a very wide range of plant species. It is transmitted by aphids in a non-persistent manner, through sap, and occasionally by seeds. Infection can cause mosaics, yellowing, stunting, leaf malformations, and other growth abnormalities, with symptoms varying depending on the plant species. AMV is highly adaptable, and new host species continue to be reported, highlighting its broad ecological and epidemiological significance.
Crops
Apium graveolens
celery
No
CABI CPC
No references were found indicating celery seed is a pathway.
2025-11-25 18:50:09
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Capsicum annuum
pepper
Uncertain
AMV000-4, CABI CPC, DPV WEB, AMV000-10, AMV000-11, AMV000-14, AMV000-16
In pepper, AMV is transmitted primarily by aphids in a non-persistent manner. Although an older report from Sutic (1959), which is still occasionally cited, suggested low-level seed transmission, there is no confirmed evidence that seed is a pathway.
No validated seed test exists for Alfamovirus AMV in pepper seed, though DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR assays are used for other tomato viruses.
Healthy seed production important in control.
2025-12-01 18:54:58
Sutic D, 1959. Die Rolle des Paprikasamens bei der Virusubertragung. Phytopathologische Zeitschrift, 36:84-93.
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Database of Plant Viruses. (n.d.). Name index. DPVweb; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Berkeley, G.H. (1947). A strain of the Alfalfa mosaic virus on pepper in Ontario. Phytopathology, 37 (11), 781-789.
Hull, R., Kenneth, M., Smith, M.A L. and Frederik, B.B. (1969). Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. Advances in Virus Research (Volume 15, pp. 365-433): Academic Press.
Milošević, D., Ignjatov, M., Stanković, I., Nikolić, Z., Gvozdanović-Varga, J., Krstić, B., 2018. Occurrence and diversity of viruses infecting pepper in Serbia.Acta Agriculturae Serbica, 23(46):141-155.
Lara M Amiri-Kazaz, Ana M Pastrana, Oleg Daugovish, Adrianna Szczepaniec, Alfalfa mosaic virus in chile peppers: status, management prospects, and research needs, Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Volume 16, Issue 1, 2025, 24
Coriandrum sativum
coriander
No
CABI CPC
No references were found indicating coriander seed is a pathway.
2025-11-25 19:06:47
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Cucurbitaceae family
cucumber, melons, squash, pumpkins, watermelon
No
CABI CPC, AMV000-11
No references were found indicating that Cucurbit seed is a pathway.
2025-11-25 19:07:51
Glycine max
soybean
uncertain
AMV000-7, AMV000-8, CABI CPC, DPV WEB, AMV000-11, AMV000-19
Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) occurs in soybean and can cause mosaic or mottling symptoms, leaf deformation, and stunting, particularly early in plant development. The virus is transmitted primarily by aphids in a non-persistent manner. Although some experimental studies using artificially inoculated seed suggested seed transmission may be possible, this has not been verified under natural conditions
2025-11-25 19:16:40
Richardson, MJ 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Diseases. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich Switzerland
Jaspers and Bos, 1980. Description of Plant Viruses ; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Database of Plant Viruses. (n.d.). Name index. DPVweb; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Hull, R., Kenneth, M., Smith, M.A L. and Frederik, B.B. (1969). Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. Advances in Virus Research (Volume 15, pp. 365-433): Academic Press.
He, B., Fajolu, O. L., Wen, R. H., & Hajimorad, M. R. (2010). Seed transmissibility of Alfalfa mosaic virus in soybean. Plant Health Progress, 11(1), 41.
Lactuca sativa
lettuce
No
CABI CPC, DPV WEB, AMV000-9, AMV000-11
No references were found indicating lettuce seed is a pathway.
2025-11-25 19:17:58
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Database of Plant Viruses. (n.d.). Name index. DPVweb; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Gilbertson, RL. 2017. Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. In, Compendium of Lettuce Diseases and Pests, Second Edition Eds. K. V. Subbarao, R. M. Davis, R. L. Gilbertson and R. N. Raid American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN USA
Hull, R., Kenneth, M., Smith, M.A L. and Frederik, B.B. (1969). Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. Advances in Virus Research (Volume 15, pp. 365-433): Academic Press.
Medicago sativa
alfalfa
Yes
AMV000-2, AMV000-3, AMV000-7, AMV000-8, CABI CPC, DPV WEB, AMV000-11, AMV000-12, AMV000-13, AMV000-15
Seed borne AMV in alfalfa is established and accepted.
Yes
Bioassay, ELISA, PCR
Tests have not been standardized or verified
AMV000-2, AMV000-3, CABI CPC, DPV WEB
Cultural
Use of virus-free seed, Vector aphid control. Some slight genetic resistance.
CABI CPC
2025-11-25 19:19:56
Bailiss KW, Offei SK, 1990. Alfalfa mosaic virus in lucerne seed during seed maturation and storage, and in seedlings. Plant Pathology, 39(3):539-547
Bariana HS, Shannon AL, Chu PWG, Waterhouse PM, 1994. Detection of five seedborne legume viruses in one sensitive multiplex polymerase chain reaction test. Phytopathology, 84(10):1201-1205
Richardson, MJ 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Diseases. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich Switzerland
Jaspers and Bos, 1980. Description of Plant Viruses ; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Database of Plant Viruses. (n.d.). Name index. DPVweb; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Hull, R., Kenneth, M., Smith, M.A L. and Frederik, B.B. (1969). Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. Advances in Virus Research (Volume 15, pp. 365-433): Academic Press.
Jones, R.A.C. and Nicholas, D.A, (1992). Studies on alfalfa mosaic virus infection of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha) swards: seed-borne infection, persistence, spread and effects on productivity. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 43 (3), 697-715.
Bailiss, K.W. and Offei, S.K. (1990). Alfalfa mosaic virus in lucerne seed during seed maturation and storage, and in seedlings. Plant Pathology, 39 (3), 539-547.
Li, J., Shang, Q., Liu, Y., Dai, W., Li, X., Wei, S., ... & Ban, L. (2022). Occurrence, distribution, and transmission of alfalfa viruses in China. Viruses, 14(7), 1519.
Solanum lycopersicum
tomato
uncertain
AMV000-6, AMV000-7, CABI CPC, DPV WEB, AMV000-11, AMV000-17, AMV000-18
One reference was found indicating that seed may be a pathway, but seed was not directly tested; it is unclear whether the proper controls or methodology were used to determine seed infection transmission. Tomato is a host of Alfalfa mosaic virus, and seed pathway is inferred in many tomato disease guides, but no references were cited or data presented to verify this inference.
No validated seed test exists for Alfamovirus AMV in tomato, though DAS-ELISA and RT-PCR assays are used for other tomato viruses.
Healthy seed production important in control.
2025-11-25 19:20:22
International Seed Federation Regulated Pest List Database. www.pestlist.worldseed.org. Nyon Switzerland
Richardson, MJ 1990. An Annotated List of Seed-borne Diseases. International Seed Testing Association, Zurich Switzerland
Crop Protection Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. www.cabi.org/cpc.
Database of Plant Viruses. (n.d.). Name index. DPVweb; http://dpvweb.net/dpv/
Hull, R., Kenneth, M., Smith, M.A L. and Frederik, B.B. (1969). Alfalfa Mosaic Virus. Advances in Virus Research (Volume 15, pp. 365-433): Academic Press.
Rai, S., 2011. Seed transmission of Cucumber mosaic and Alfalfa mosaic viruses in tomato seeds. Tishreen University Journal for Research and Scientific Studies - Biological Sciences Series, 33(3), pp.40-52.
Trucco, V., Castellanos Collazo, O., Vaghi Medina, C.G., Cabrera Mederos, D., Lenardon, S. and Giolitti, F., 2022. Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV): Genetic diversity and a new natural host. Journal of Plant Pathology, 104(1), pp.349-356.
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