Meanings
- uncountableTobacco mosaic virus, an RNA virus (of genus Tobamovirus) that infects plants, especially tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae, causing characteristic patterns of mottling and discoloration on the leaves.
RNA replaces DNA as the genetic material in many viruses (for example, tobacco mosaic, influenza, polio, certain RNA phages).
1992, James D. Watson and others, Recombinant DNA, second edition, Scientific American Books, page 64Synonyms: TMV
- uncountablebiologyA disease of tobacco plants, characterized by mottled leaves, caused by this virus.
As is the case with tobacco mosaic, the disease has been successfully transmitted by inoculating healthy plants with juice pressed out of diseased plants.
1920, Journal of agricultural research, volume 19, page 131
Synonyms & antonyms
nounTobacco mosaic virus, an RNA virus (of genus Tobamovirus) that infects plants, especially tobacco and other members of the family Solanaceae, causing characteristic patterns of mottling and discoloration on the leaves.
Cite this entry
tobacco mosaic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tobacco%20mosaic
“tobacco mosaic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tobacco%20mosaic. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tobacco mosaic,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tobacco%20mosaic.
Source: tobacco mosaic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.