Agriculture: Cucurbits Pest Management Guidelines

Curly Top

  • Beet curly top virus (BCTV)
  • Symptoms and Signs

    Symptoms of curly top include stunting, stiffness, short internodes, and leaves that are darker green than normal. Runner tips tend to turn up. Plants infected in seedling stage die. Leaves may roll upward and have a crinkled appearance. Older plants may turn yellow and die.

    Comments on the Disease

    Curly top is rare in cucurbits. The virus is transmitted by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus; the leafhopper retains the virus and is capable of transmitting it for its entire life. Curly top virus has a wide host range including many weeds.

    Management

    No control is practiced.

    Text Updated: 12/09
    Feedback