What Causes Pea Streak in Plants?
If you aren’t quite clear on this disease, you may still be asking “what is pea streak virus?” It’s a virus that infects pea plants, causing them to develop bruise-colored streaks extending the entire length of the stem. According to pea streak virus information, this is not a rare disease. Pea streak in plants is quite widespread in pea-growing areas, especially in pea crops growing at the end of the season. PeSV is not the only virus that causes streaking in plants. Other viruses also cause the disease, like western pea streak virus, alfalfa mosaic virus, red clover vein-mosaic virus, and bean yellow mosaic virus. These viruses overwinter in leguminous plants like alfalfa and red clover. The virus is passed from these crops to nearby pea crops by aphids.
Pea Streak Virus Symptoms
The first pea streak virus symptoms are light brown, oblong lesions that develop lengthwise along the pea plant stems and petioles. Over time, these streaks grow longer, intersect, and turn darker. Infected pea pods show sunken dead areas and are badly formed. Pods may also be malformed and fail to develop peas. Infected plants look stunted.
How to Treat Pea Streak
Unfortunately, no pea plant cultivars that resist the virus are available commercially. If you grow peas and worry about this virus, you may want to know how to treat pea streak. The methods suggested to fight pea streak center around the insect spreading it: aphids. Practice the best aphid prevention possible, including spraying plants with insecticides. It’s also a good idea to remove alfalfa, red clover, and other perennial legumes in the area. Don’t border the pea planting area with these legumes.
