Curly Top

Curly Top

This cute sounding little virus disease is most prevalent on beets and chard, but may also affect beans, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Infected plants wilt during the day and their leaves are commonly curled, or thickened, cupped, yellowed or rolled inward. Sometimes the veins on the undersides are purplish in color. All plants are stunted and don’t grow well, or produce any more fruit.

Curly Top is commonly spread by leafhoppers, which makes it hard to control because these creatures are very mobile and travel long distances. Only the individual plants visited by leafhoppers will be affected, unlike bacterial and fungal infections which may spread to every plant you have. If curly top becomes a recurring problem you could use row covers to keep sucking insects away. It may also help to interplant another crop between your plants, as this makes them less visible and can provides some shade (leafhoppers tend to feed in the sun). The virus can remain in infected plant debris for years, so keep the soil clear. Also remove diseased plants to reduce sources of infection.

Image: Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org