Lettuce

Screening Lettuce and Spinach Germplasm for Resistance to Beet Western Yellows Virus (1992)

Introduction

Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), an aphid-vectored luteovirus, causes a pronounced, bright yellow color to the leaf margin of lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens. Interveinal chlorosis may also develop. The virus does not usually stunt growth and is not considered a problem in many susceptible crops. However, where the leaves are harvested or comprise the edible portion of the crop, such as with lettuce, spinach, Chinese cabbage, and root crops sold with the shoots attached, even a slight expression of symptoms can render the crop unmarketable.