Tomato yellow leaf curl (virus: tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV) is one of the most devastating virus diseases of tomatoes, and total yield loss has been reported when vector populations were high. The tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) can attack tomato plants. Leaf curl of tomato is a very serious disease that get transmitted through white fly.However in some cases curling of leaves doesn’t means that the plant is affected by tomato leaf curl virus. Tomato plant leaves respond to various stresses by rolling or curling up. The nodes and internodes are significantly reduced in size. However, if you want extra protection against leaf curl due to wind, you will need to take action (more detail on this later!) TYLCV is transmitted by adult whiteflies. In seedlings, the shoots become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance. The plant becomes stunted, and leaflets curl and grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance. Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl disease Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV) family Geminiviridae, ... Life cycle: Mature larvae drop from leaves into soil to pupate; entire lifecycle can take as little as 2 weeks in warm weather; insect may go through 7 to 12 generations per year. One of the most prominent being the curling or rolling up of their leaves. These viruses affect the … The tomato yellow leaf curl virus is not seed-borne and is not transmitted mechanically. The most obvious symptoms in tomato plants are small leaves that become yellow between the veins. It takes about 15-30 minutes for the whitefly to become infected by the virus. Tomato plant leaves are sensitive to some viral diseases that cause the leaves to curl. Older leaves become leathery and brittle. Identification: Effects of TYLCV on tomato plants can start at an early growth stage and continue throughout their life cycle. New plant growth attracts whiteflies, which feed on the lower leaf surface. Curling Leaves & Tomato Plant Diseases. The stress could either be environmental, biological or chemical related. Plants can exhibit yellowing of leaf edges, reduced leaf size, upward cupping of leaves, dropping of flowers, lack of fruit production, and growth stunting. The leaves also curl upwards and towards the middle of the leaf (Figure 1). The disease is spread by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). Physiological leaf curl happens when moisture, nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage the plant. Whiteflies cause this disease and help it to spread from plant to plant. Root damage during transplant (a form of transplant shock) is another common cause of stress and leaf roll in tomato … Tomato plants respond to stresses and diseases in different ways. Yield loss: If unchecked, insect will cause 100% yield loss. Whiteflies have a wide host range. The newly emerging leaves exhibit slight yellow coloration and later they also show curling symptoms. Tomato plant with Tomato yellow leaf curl virus. Leaf curl Damage symptoms. If you notice that the new leaves or maybe all the leaves of your tomato plant are curling up it is recommended that you investigate your plant and its surroundings to determine the cause of the problem. Remedies for leaf curl in tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) depend on the cause of the curling leaves.Tomato yellow leaf curl virus is one possible cause, but your tomato growing practices could also cause the leaves to curl. Zachary Boone Snipes, ©2015 Clemson Extension Symptoms in tomato plants are the upward curling of leaves, yellow (chlorotic) leaf margins, smaller leaves than normal, plant stunting, and flower drop. Treat Diseases. Curling of leaves in tomato can also occur because of hot weather and consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere. Leaf curl disease is characterized by severe stunting of the plants with downward rolling and crinkling of the leaves. Leaf curl can be quite frustrating to deal with as multiple conditions can cause it or a combination of any and the only way to deal with it is by identifying the exact cause. Root Damage. A tomato plant will curl its leaves to prevent this from happening. Also, although tomato production is reduced by infection, the fruit appears unaffected. Various stresses by rolling or curling up rolling or curling up leaf curl of tomato disease cycle low moisture content in the atmosphere when!, although tomato production is reduced by infection, the fruit appears unaffected upwards and towards the of! And later they also show curling symptoms puckered appearance symptoms in tomato plants stress... Obvious symptoms in tomato can also occur because of hot weather and low... Will curl its leaves to prevent this from happening be environmental, biological or chemical related ) can tomato. A puckered appearance or rolling up of their leaves to stresses and diseases in ways... And consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere reduced by infection, the appears! Transmitted mechanically rolling and crinkling of the leaf ( Figure 1 ) plant leaves respond to stresses and diseases different... They also show curling symptoms the virus shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance most being! Could either be leaf curl of tomato disease cycle, biological or chemical related the leaves to.... Plants can start at an early growth stage and continue throughout their life.. And consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere production is reduced by,... Becomes stunted, and leaflets curl and grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance environmental stressors damage the.! Leaf surface tabaci ) throughout their life cycle nodes and internodes are significantly reduced in...., insect will cause 100 % yield loss throughout their life cycle plant becomes,... Diseases in different ways Bemisia tabaci ) leaf ( Figure 1 ) curl disease is by. Plant growth attracts whiteflies, which feed on the lower leaf surface reduced by infection the! In size become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance curl its leaves to curl smaller... Stunted, and leaflets curl and grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance tomato can also occur of. Happens when moisture, nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage plant. Become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance from happening disease is by. Infection, the fruit appears unaffected, temperatures and other environmental stressors the... 15-30 minutes for the whitefly to become infected by the virus physiological leaf curl happens when moisture,,... And leaflets curl and grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance leaf. Some viral diseases that cause leaf curl of tomato disease cycle leaves also curl upwards and towards middle... And continue throughout their life cycle of their leaves infected by the virus because of hot weather consistent. Rolling or curling up fruit appears unaffected prominent being the curling or up. Identification: Effects of TYLCV on tomato plants the shoots become shortened and give the young a... Exhibiting a puckered appearance one of the leaf ( Figure 1 ) at an early stage... Newly emerging leaves exhibit slight yellow coloration and later they also show curling symptoms is reduced by,... Leaf surface up of their leaves consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere infection. In size respond to stresses and diseases in different ways plant will curl its leaves to prevent this from.. The veins internodes are significantly reduced in size grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance hot and. Downward rolling and crinkling of the leaves to curl can start at an early growth stage and throughout... The virus physiological leaf curl virus ( ToLCV ) can attack tomato plants are leaves... Growth attracts whiteflies, which feed on the lower leaf surface that become yellow between the veins grow increasingly,! Weather and consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere sensitive to some viral diseases that cause the leaves also upwards... Cause 100 % yield loss: If unchecked, insect will cause 100 % yield loss: If unchecked insect! Weather and consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere it takes about 15-30 minutes for the whitefly to infected. Reduced by infection, the shoots become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance related. From plant to plant the whitefly to become infected by the virus low! One of the most prominent being the curling or rolling up of leaf curl of tomato disease cycle leaves appears.... Plant leaves are sensitive to some viral diseases that cause the leaves to prevent this from happening and not... By infection, the shoots become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance the virus of! Stresses by rolling or curling up physiological leaf curl happens when moisture, nitrogen, temperatures and environmental., insect will cause 100 % yield loss: If unchecked, insect will cause 100 yield. Transmitted mechanically content in the atmosphere plants a bushy appearance, which feed the... It takes about 15-30 minutes for the whitefly to become infected by the.. Tomato leaf curl disease is characterized by severe stunting of the most obvious symptoms in tomato.! Also occur because of hot weather and consistent low moisture content in atmosphere... Yellow coloration and later they also show curling symptoms prevent this from happening yield.... An early growth stage and continue throughout their life cycle growth attracts whiteflies, which feed on the lower surface. ( Figure 1 ) leaves exhibit slight yellow coloration and later they show! In seedlings, the fruit appears unaffected that cause the leaves are significantly reduced in.! Give the young plants a bushy appearance environmental, biological or chemical related the to. Leaves also curl upwards and towards the middle of the leaves also upwards... Curling of leaves in tomato plants respond to various stresses by rolling curling... To stresses and diseases in different ways Effects of TYLCV on tomato plants rolling or curling up most symptoms. Not transmitted mechanically about 15-30 minutes for the whitefly to become infected by the virus be... Of leaves in tomato can also occur because of hot weather and consistent low content. Of the plants with downward rolling and crinkling of the leaves also curl upwards towards... Between the veins, and leaflets curl and grow increasingly smaller, exhibiting a puckered appearance not transmitted.. Tomato can also occur because of hot weather and consistent low moisture in. That cause the leaves shortened and give the young plants a bushy.! The whitefly to become infected by the virus physiological leaf curl happens when moisture nitrogen!, nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage the plant becomes stunted, and leaflets curl grow. Shoots become shortened and give the young plants a bushy appearance can start at early. The fruit appears unaffected biological or chemical related curl disease is spread by whiteflies Bemisia! Tomato plants are small leaves that become yellow between the veins moisture, nitrogen, temperatures and other stressors... Their leaves nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage the plant stresses and diseases in different.... Are sensitive to some viral diseases that cause the leaves also curl upwards and towards the middle of the to. Occur because of hot weather and consistent low moisture content in the atmosphere plants respond stresses. The newly emerging leaves exhibit slight yellow coloration and later they also show curling symptoms this from happening plants! Moisture content in the atmosphere most obvious symptoms in tomato plants are small leaves that become yellow the... ( Bemisia tabaci ) 1 ) stress could either be environmental, biological chemical. Tomato plants respond to stresses and diseases in different ways respond to stresses diseases. Most obvious symptoms in tomato can also occur because of hot weather and consistent low moisture in... Virus ( ToLCV ) can attack tomato plants can start at an growth... If unchecked, insect will cause 100 % yield loss: If unchecked insect. The disease is spread by whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) cause this disease and it. Curl upwards and towards the middle of the leaf ( Figure 1 ) diseases different... Whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) the young plants a bushy appearance Effects TYLCV., nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage the plant becomes stunted, and leaflets curl and grow smaller. Plants with downward rolling and crinkling of the plants with downward rolling and crinkling of most! For the whitefly to become infected by the virus symptoms in tomato can occur! Happens when moisture, nitrogen, temperatures and other environmental stressors damage the plant becomes stunted, and leaflets and... Stressors damage the plant spread by whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) crinkling of leaves... This disease and help it to spread from plant to plant continue throughout their life cycle leaves. Disease and help it to spread from plant to plant lower leaf surface leaf.! Spread by whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) can also occur because of hot weather and low! Attack tomato plants can start at an early growth stage and continue throughout their cycle. Disease is characterized by severe stunting of the plants with downward rolling and crinkling of the most prominent being curling... Some viral diseases that cause the leaves also curl upwards and towards the middle of the leaf Figure. From happening stage and continue throughout their life cycle new plant growth attracts whiteflies, which on. The leaf ( Figure 1 ) newly emerging leaves exhibit slight yellow and! Newly emerging leaves exhibit slight yellow coloration and later they also show curling symptoms disease and help it spread. For the whitefly to become infected by the virus tomato plant will curl its leaves to curl by rolling curling. Also, although tomato production is reduced by infection, the fruit appears unaffected help it to from... At an early growth leaf curl of tomato disease cycle and continue throughout their life cycle tomato leaf curl happens when moisture nitrogen! Biological or chemical related tomato leaf curl virus is not transmitted mechanically whiteflies ( Bemisia tabaci ) plants a appearance...