What Are We Introducing?
When I first heard about “vaccinating” a tomato crop, I had doubts. We spent so much effort keeping diseases out of the greenhouse, and now we were deliberately introducing a mild virus to protect plants against a more damaging one.
I had firsthand experience applying a cross-protection treatment for pepino mosaic virus. A recent HortiDaily article warning about cross-protection against tomato brown rugose fruit virus brought that conversation back.
These are different viruses, and success against one doesn’t establish that the approach is right for another.
Before using a treatment, growers need to know how it’s been tested and what risks come with it.
I’m open to an approach that challenges how I’ve always done things. But before we deliberately introduce a virus into a greenhouse, I want a very good reason to open that door.