Tobacco

mosaic virus Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) is a pathogenic virus of the genus Tobamovirus that infects a wide range of plant species including tobacco, tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of other vegetables. TMV has a positive-sense single-stranded RNA genome in a rod-shaped capsid. The virus is transmitted through physical contact between infected and healthy plants, as well as through contact with contaminated tools, such as pruning shears. TMV is of significant importance to agricultural crop production as it can cause substantial economic losses in yield. It is also used in a variety of research applications, including the production of biologics, the development of nanoparticles, gene delivery, and the study of plant-virus interactions.