Pea early‐browning tobravirus

A disease of pea caused by pea early‐browning virus was first described in the Netherlands, and shortly afterwards was reported from England. The virus has since been reported from several other European countries, and also from North Africa. It can systemically infect crop legume species and the disease is locally important in pea in the Netherlands and England. The virus, a member of the Tobravirus genus, is transmitted through sandy or light‐textured soils by species of trichodorid nematodes, and also through seed of pea and faba bean. Seed transmission is the most probable means of virus spread, especially over long distances, to previously uninfested soils. Aspects of the disease including symptoms, soil and seed transmission, detection, resistance and control, and characteristics of the pathogen, are reviewed.