UC IPM Online UC ANR home page UC IPM home page

UC IPM Home

SKIP navigation

 
  Printer-friendly version

How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Overall stunting of cantaloupe plant infected with curly top virus.

Cucurbits

Curly Top

Pathogen: Beet curly top virus (BCTV)

(Reviewed 12/09, updated 12/09)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS

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.

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cucurbits
UC ANR Publication 3445
Diseases
R. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
T. A. Turini, UC Cooperative Extension, Imperial County
B. J. Aegerter, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
J. J. Stapleton, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
Acknowledgment for contributions to Diseases:
W. D. Gubler, Plant Pathology, UC Davis

Top of page

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2009 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r116102311.html revised: December 17, 2009. Contact webmaster.