Curly top is a severe agricultural disease caused by the beet curly top virus. It primarily strikes sugar beets, tomatoes, peppers, and cucurbits. Infected plants exhibit dwarfed growth, thick and brittle leaves that roll upward, and yellowing foliage. Because it is vectored by the beet leafhopper, managing the disease relies heavily on controlling the insect population and planting resistant varieties.
Heard on the job
The tomatoes in the high tunnel look fine, but the field rows got hit hard by curly top after that leafhopper migration.