tobacco mosaic

English

Noun

Wikispecies tobacco mosaic (uncountable)

1. Tobacco mosaic virus, an RNA virus (of genus Tobamovirus) that infects plants, especially tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae, causing characteristic patterns of mottling and discoloration on the leaves.
   • 1992, James D. Watson and others, Recombinant DNA, second edition, Scientific American Books, →ISBN, page 64:

     RNA replaces DNA as the genetic material in many viruses (for example, tobacco mosaic, influenza, polio, certain RNA phages).

2. (phytopathology) A disease of tobacco plants, characterized by mottled leaves, caused by this virus.
   • 1920, Journal of agricultural research, volume 19, page 131:

     As is the case with tobacco mosaic, the disease has been successfully transmitted by inoculating healthy plants with juice pressed out of diseased plants.

Synonyms

• (tobacco mosaic virus): TMV