Diseased trees may be dwarfed. Peach mosaic infection causes small, blotchy leaves, short stubby shoots , and small, bumpy, poorly flavored fruit . Chlorotic leaves develop during spring and summer on susceptible cultivars. Tolerant cultivars may show faint vein clearing or yellow flecks in the leaves. Fruit may ripen several days to a week later than fruit on non-infected trees.
Infected trees are worthless and serve as sources of infection to non-infected trees.
The Vector - Eriophyes insidiosus , the peach bud mite Peach mosaic virus is spread by Eriophyes insidiosus , the peach bud mite . This Eriophyid mite feeds and reproduces in the bud on embryotic leaves. E. insidiosus is one-quarter the size of a spider mite and is carried from tree to tree by wind. Eliminating the mite is nearly impossible. Current Status Many new freestone peach and nectarine cultivars are available which exhibit symptoms of peach mosaic and have been declared legal to plant in Mesa County.