This virus has a worldwide distribution and a very wide host range. 1934, hence english cucumber name Cucumber mosaic.
Since then, it has been found to infect a great variety of other plants. CMV also induces a type of symptom on leaves known as the “shoestring” effect on many host species. This effect causes young leaves to appear narrow and the entire plant to be stunted. Specifically, CMV can cause cucumbers to turn pale and bumpy. The leaves of these plants turn mosaic and their rugosity is often changed, making leaves wrinkled and misshapen.
Growth of these plants is usually also stunted and produces few flowers. Often, cucumber fruits are oddly shaped, appear gray, and tested bitter. These appearances lead to them being referred to as “white pickles”. Tomato plants are usually stunted and have poorly shaped leaves, or “fernleaf”, when infected by CMV.