Thrips are less than one-quarter inch in length, light green to brown, and are extremely difficult to find on the plants. Several weedy hosts and ornamental plants may serve as alternate hosts for the virus. Control Virus diseases cannot be controlled once the plant is infected. Therefore, every effort should be made to prevent introduction of virus diseases into the garden. Many varieties of tomato are available with resistance to tomato mosaic virus.
Sanitation is the primary means of controlling the other two virus diseases.
Infected plants should be removed immediately to prevent spread of the pathogens. Perennial weeds, which may serve as alternate hosts, should be controlled in and adjacent to the garden. Avoid planting tomatoes next to cucurbits, spinach, or other vegetables and flowers susceptible to these diseases. Control of insects, especially aphids and thrips, will help reduce the likelihood of cucumber mosaic and spotted wilt. It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiement Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have euqal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability.