 Davis,
California
May 16, 2007
California growers are on alert
for a new viral disease, tomato yellow leaf curl, which has the
potential to devastate the state's tomato production. The first
California discovery of the virus was in Brawley during March of
this year.
The disease belongs to a family of viruses known as
geminiviruses and is spread by whiteflies or leafhoppers.
Symptoms of infected tomato plants include stunted and abnormal
upright growth, and small crumpled leaves that show strong
yellowing (chlorosis). Flowers on infected plants commonly fall
off before fruit set, dramatically reducing production. Heavily
infected fields could be a total loss.
"Because this disease is potentially devastating for tomato
production in California, it is critical to limit its spread,"
said UC Davis plant
pathology professor Robert Gilbertson.
State officials with the California Department of Food and
Agriculture have contained the initial outbreak of tomato yellow
leaf curl, and a monitoring program is in effect in commercial
fields, retail stores and backyard gardens in Southern
California.
A UC Integrated Pest Management Project
brochure, which contains information about the disease and
the white fly that caries it, is available online at <http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783103311.html>.
The
California Tomato Growers Association is sending a copy of
the brochure to each tomato grower in the state.
RELATED RELEASE:
Yellow Leaf Curl
virus on tomato - California, Texas |
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