TB01 Control of Tobacco Mosaic Virus on Flue-Cured Tobacco Tobacco Disease Note No. The ideal way to control mosaic is by the use of resistant varieties, and several new hybrids, which have acceptable yield and quality, are now available. Strict sanitation procedures are necessary to prevent the virus from becoming established in the crop and to prevent spread of the virus if efforts to keep it out of the crop are unsuccessful.
Crop rotation helps to keep losses minimal in fields where mosaic has occurred.
Mosaic is so common that most tobacco growers know the symptoms of the disease in the field. The tissue may be rough, and will burn on hot, sunny days. We know several other viruses that cause symptoms on flue-cured tobacco that look like mosaic. Symptoms on seedlings are much milder and easily overlooked. Stunting and mild mottling may be observed.