tomato streak
Noun: A viral plant disease affecting various crops, including tomatoes, potatoes, and peas. It is caused by a combined infection of two distinct viruses: potato virus X (or a related potexvirus) and tomato mosaic virus (or a related tobamovirus). This co-infection leads to more severe symptoms than either virus alone, often including streaked, mottled, or distorted foliage and fruit.
The term is used specifically in agricultural and botanical contexts to describe a particular plant pathology. * The entire crop was lost due to an outbreak of tomato streak. * Researchers are studying the interaction between the two viruses that cause tomato streak.
- The disease is also known more technically as "double-virus streak" or can be described as a "complex viral disease."
- The name can be somewhat misleading, as tomato streak affects plants beyond just tomatoes.
- Streak (noun): In plant pathology, a line, stripe, or elongated mark of a different color or texture, often symptomatic of disease.
- Mosaic (noun): A symptom pattern of light and dark green mottling on leaves, characteristic of many plant viral infections, including one component of tomato streak.
- Double-virus streak
- Complex viral infection (in this specific context)
The term is highly specific. The "streak" refers to the symptomatic streaking or striping on the plant, while "tomato" indicates one of the primary host plants. It does not refer to a streak or line on an individual tomato fruit itself, but to the systemic disease of the plant.
- disease of a wide range of plants (tomatoes, potatoes, peas) resulting from a mixed infection of potato and tomato mosaic