UC IPM Home > Homes, Gardens, Landscapes, and Turf > Vegetables > Diseases

How to Manage Pests

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Big vein

Big vein disease is a viruslike disease that causes the veins in leaves to become very enlarged and clear. Such deformities are easily seen if the leaf is examined with the light source behind it. The enlarged veins cause the rest of the leaf to be ruffled and malformed.

Life cycle

Solutions

Lettuce big vein is caused by a viruslike agent vectored by the fungus Olpidium. There is little that can be done to manage it. Avoid fine-textured, poorly drained soils where big vein has been a problem. Do not overirrigate. Symptoms are not as severe if air temperatures are above 60 F, so a change in planting time can help. Some varieties may be more tolerant.

Clearing of tissue next to leaf veins
Clearing of tissue next to leaf veins

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/DISEASES/bigvein.html revised: May 31, 2013. Contact webmaster.