<i>Lettuce mosaic virus</i> : from pathogen diversity to host interactors

Abstract

The characteristic symptoms on susceptible lettuce cultivars are dwarfism, mosaic, distortion and yellowing of the leaves with sometimes a much reduced heart of lettuce (failure to form heads). The differences in virus strains, cultivars and the physiological stage of the host at the moment of the attack cause different symptom severity: from a very slight discoloration of the veins to severe necrosis leading to the death of the plant.