Extension Spotlight

Virus infections can not only occur in people, but plants as well. However, people and plant viruses are not the same nor do they cross infect. In other words, viruses that infect plants will not infect people. Additionally, most virus diseases need a vector, which is the way they are transported. Thus, stopping the spread (stopping the vector) of a virus will control it.

In plants, there are common virus diseases that can attack, particularly wheat. The most common viral diseases in wheat include: wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) and high plains wheat mosaic vir...