Pea Streak

Chubby, round peas, tearing through your garden without their pods is not pea streak, but it conjures a cute image, doesn’t it?


Unfortunately, there isn’t anything cute about this viral disease. [And I couldn’t find a usable image, sorry about that.] Pea streak virus (PeSV) is spread by aphids. The virus responsible for pea streak also causes chickpea wilt.


Aphids infected with the pea streak virus often hide out in alfalfa, clover, and other perennial legumes.


Pea streak symptoms

Stems of infected plants develop dark brown, gray, or purple longitudinal streaks. These streaks are similar to those caused by alfalfa mosaic and bean yellow mosaic. When plants have been infected by pea streak, you will also see deformed pods with sunken areas. Pods do not fill out properly and leaves wither and die. Dieback starts at tips all around the plant and moves inward, toward the center.


Pea streak management

All you can do for infected plants is remove them and toss them in the trash. You can reduce the likelihood of pea streak occurring in your garden by starting with certified disease-free seeds and seedlings and, removing potential hideouts. Control aphids as well as you can. There are no chemical treatments for pea streak.