potato mop-top

It sounds cute — a potato plant with a mop-top look— but the mop-top is created from stunted foliage in the plant caused by the potato mop-top virus (PMTV).  The tubers below the ground have stained rings or arcs in the vegetable flesh.  The virus causes no harm to human beings but the potato crop is severely reduced and the tubers don’t look particularly attractive to buyers. Mashed potato with brown staining is unappealing.

The virus flourishes in partnership with a soil-borne fungus found in locations with high rainfall.  PMTV is common in many potato-cropping countries around the world but has never occurred in Australia — until now.  The first instance of it has been found in a potato farm in Tasmania.  There are now restrictions placed on the farm while the pathway of the virus is being traced.