Common And Yellow Mosaics

Virus mosaics cause mottled, variegated leaf patterns in yellows and greens on certain legume plants and relatives. Infected leaves may be smaller than normal and distorted, and affected plants show reduced vigor and delayed growth. The viruses spread readily through aphid vectors, particularly in spring when young growth is most susceptible. Virus-infected plants remain infected for life and are a continuous source of virus for spreading to nearby healthy plants.

Since no cure exists, prevention is your only strategy: choose resistant varieties when available, and keep virus-carrying plants like clover and gladiolus away from susceptible crops. Scout regularly for aphids and manage populations if they appear, though controlling aphids completely is difficult. Remove infected plants promptly to reduce virus sources in your garden. The most reliable path is to plant resistant cultivars from the start; resistant bean varieties like Oregon 54 and Roma II are available and perform well in the region.