Potato Virus X

​Potato virus X (PVX) may sound like a super sleuth or cartoon hero, but this viral disease can cause problems for your potato, tomato, eggplant, and pepper crops. If you happen to be growing tobacco or members of the amaranth or cabbage families, PVX can hurt you there, too.


Also known as potato interveinal mosaic, potato top necrosis, and potato mild mosaic virus, this disease is caused by members of the Potexvirus virus group. PVX is found everywhere potatoes are grown and is responsible for losses of 10 to 15%. When other viruses join the fight, those numbers skyrocket.


​​Consequences of coinfection

Unlike most plant diseases, which work in isolation, potato X can appear in concert with PVA and PVY to create a perfect storm of stunting, chlorosis, and crop loss. By learning how to identify and prevent these diseases, you are more likely to have a productive potato patch for many years to come.

Sick potato (jjffjj) Pixabay

Symptoms of potato virus X

You may not see any symptoms at all, besides a drop in tuber production, and your plants may look bushier than normal. Or, you may see chlorosis, dead spots in tubers, leaf crinkling, mosaic, ringspot, and smaller leaves. [Sadly, I was unable to find any photos I could use.]


Potato virus X management

Potato X disease is not transmitted by insects. It is only spread mechanically, on tools, clothing, and infected roots and tubers. If you avoid walking through infected areas and only use clean, disease-free seed potatoes, you should be able to prevent this disease. Crop rotation can help break the cycle.


Since potato X also appears on weeds in the same family, it’s a good idea to keep bindweed away from your susceptible crops. Heck, it’s always a good idea to keep bindweed out of your garden and landscape.


Some potato varieties, such as Atlantic, HiLite Russet, Norwis, and Sebago, show some resistance to PVX, so you may want to use them in your potato patch.