Viral Disease of Plants

Plant viruses must enter the plant through a wound that can result from natural growth, mechanical injury, insects that puncture, or other plant infections. Some common insects that vector viral diseases are thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, and whitefly. Mechanical injury can occur when pruning, repotting, or propagating by budding or grafting. Since there are no known cures to the viruses, it is important to identify infected plants as early as possible.