CURLY TOP VIRUS OF TOMATO
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Rick Heflebower
Horticulture Agent
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Hurricane
Abstract
Curly Top is a virus disease which causes wilting and death of tomatoes and other vegetables. Incidence of this disease has been reported from Canada and northwestern United States down to Mexico. Losses are high, in fresh market and home grown tomatoes, primarily in the southwestern United States. Tomato yield reduction is sporadic from 10% to 90% in any given season. Curly Top is an insect vectored virus that is thought to be transmitted by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus. Control with chemical sprays is extremely difficult since the timing of when the beet leafhopper moves into tomato fields and home gardens varies from year to year. Four varieties of tomato have been reported to be resistant to Curly Top, however in our study we identified symptoms and die back in all four varieties. Exclusion of hoppers, by use of row covers as well as "double density planting", has been reported to be successful in keeping disease incidence low. Each of these methods will be reported on as well as their practical application for both home and commercial tomato growers.
Authors: Heflebower, R.
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Heflebower, R. Horticulture Agent, Utah State University, Utah, 84770