how and why do variegated plants sometimes revert and lose their variegation?

Question

I’ve heard it happens different with different plants but I can’t begin to imagine how exactly it works. Can someone explain?

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

The variegation is often due to a viral infection that is deliberately introduced. I imagine if the plant overcame the viral infection it might regenerate its chloroplasts. It also seems pretty likely that new leaves and branches might not be infected, so they would come in green.