There are several sources of the lettuce mosaic virus. Since the virus is seedborne in lettuce, infected seed is a primary way of introducing lettuce mosaic to fields. The virus can infect numerous crops and weeds, thereby creating reservoirs of the virus. Lettuce mosaic virus can also be vectored by aphids, which spread the virus within a lettuce field and introduce it into lettuce fields from infected weeds and crops outside the field. Good aphid management should be practiced.
Some resistant varieties are available.
Partial List of Potential Host Reservoirs of Lettuce Mosaic. Chrysanthemum maximum lisianthus Eustoma grandiflorum gazania Gazania spp. The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page or photo file.