Common Bean Mosaic Virus(BCMV)

I have been noticing my pole beans planted this year have been doing poorly. I looked up the symptoms and it appears that they're infected with a virus, most likely the Common Bean Mosaic Virus(BCMV).

I walked around the garden and saw that there were other plots where there were infected bean plants, both pole and bush.

The disease comes from either infected seed or host plants and is spread from diseased plants to healthy plants by piercing and sucking insects, such as aphids or leafhoppers.

This is a serious disease. There is no cure for this disease. The plants will not improve and the disease will spread. If your planting(s) are infected, you will need to pull them up, bag them up, and remove them from the garden.

Also, please destroy any bean seeds you may have leftover from your plantings this year. I would recommend throwing out all leftover bean seed you may have since infected seed is the most likely source of infection. When you purchase seed for planting next year, please buy from a reputable seed company(I.e.- Burpee, Parks) and do not use a seed exchange. Do not use seed given by a friend, neighbor, etc. unless they know the source and absolutely do not use saved seeds saved from previous years.

Plant viruses are very serious diseases that spread quickly, so please check your plants ASAP and take appropriate action.

Please think of your fellow gardener and try not to salvage your crop. All our plots lie close to each other. What infects your plot today will infect your neighbor's plot tomorrow.

I've attached pictures taken in the garden of both healthy and diseased plants. It should be easy to distinguish between the two. I've also attached links if you want more information on the disease.

If you're not able to tell if your plants are infected or have any questions about this, please talk to myself or Claudine. She is a Master Gardener.

I understand the frustration of working so hard on your plot only to have a disease ravage it. I pulled up and disposed of all my bean plants this past weekend.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Mark Palczewski

Links to more information: