When is it too late to treat leaf curl?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Once more than 30% of plants exhibit extreme symptoms, such as stunting, the tomato leaf curl virus becomes irreparable. Plants infected early will not improve, regardless of treatment. Efforts shift to protecting healthy but unintended growth through intense vector management and prompt destruction of infected material.
Early Stage (Treatable)
- Symptom threshold: Less than 10% plants show minor curling
- Action plan: Remove infected plants plus two adjacent rows
- Vector control: Release Encarsia wasps immediately
Mid Stage (Containment Focus)
- Symptom threshold: 10-30% plants show yellowing/stunting
- Action plan: Quarantine zone creation plus barrier sprays
- Salvage goal: Protect remaining healthy plants
Late Stage (No Recovery)
- Symptom threshold: Over 30% plants severely stunted
- Action plan: Total removal with soil solarization
- Future prep: Plan resistant varieties for next season
With advanced infections, the damage is often permanent and irreversible. Plants under one foot tall with hard leaves will not bear fruit. At this stage in infection, whiteflies transmit the virus exponentially. I have seen entire fields with losses because the farmer waited until they were over 30 percent infected.
Adjust your strategy when you reach the point of no return. Remove all symptomatic plants immediately. Solarize the soil for six weeks with clear plastic. Prepare for the next season by selecting resistant varieties and improving sanitation. This strategy aims to minimize future losses rather than crop failure.
Weekly monitoring can help prevent situations that could lead to serious issues. Inspect new growth every three days during high-risk times. Use yellow sticky traps to monitor whitefly populations. Controls should be implemented when more than five accredited insects are found per trap. Action at this point will help protect our harvests.
Read the full article: Tomato Leaf Curl Virus: Complete Guide
