Damage Symptoms

Plants are severely stunted with shoots becoming erect. Leaflets become reduced in size and pucker. Leaves curl upwards, become distorted, and have prominent yellow margins. Flowers wither.


Conditions for Development

The virus is transmitted by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) that are attracted to young leaves and growing tips. The virus is not transmitted mechanically nor via seed. ToLCV mainly attacks tomato, but may also infect other Solanaceous species.


Control

Use resistant or tolerant cultivars. Use healthy transplants. Protect seedlings with fine meshing (60-mesh or finer) to exclude whiteflies. Use insecticides such as Confidor/Admire (imidacloprid) or Asana (esfenvalerate) and rotate insecticides to reduce build-up of insecticide-tolerant whiteflies. Eliminate other virus sources near the susceptible crop. Have a 60-day fallow period between old infected crop and new crop.