Plant Health Initiative

Bean Pod Mottle Virus - Symptoms

Foliar symptoms may be apparant on young, fast-growing leaves during cool weather. Click on image to view a larger version. Photo credit: University of Illinois

A typical leaf symptom of BPMV is a yellow and green blotchy appearance called leaf mottle. Young leaves show symptoms more severely than older leaves, sometimes with a raised or blistered appearance and distortion of leaves in the upper canopy.

Symptoms are most obvious during periods of rapid growth and cool temperatures. Sometimes symptoms resemble injury from herbicide drift. Symptoms go into remission during hot weather and later during the reproductive stages.

The symptoms caused by BPMV are similar to those caused by other viruses — this makes it difficult to diagnose BPMV and most other viruses based on symptoms alone.

Serological tests can accurately detect and distinguish among suspected viruses. Most diagnostic clinics in the North Central region are able to perform these tests.