Leaf curl virus
A whitefly-spread virus that makes leaves curl, crinkle and shrink, stunting tomato, chilli and papaya.
Also known as: Tomato leaf curl, Chilli leaf curl, Murda
Symptoms and identification
Young leaves curl upward or downward, become small, thick and crinkled, and veins may turn yellow. Plants are stunted and bushy-looking, flowers drop and very little fruit forms.
Causes
Begomoviruses carried by whiteflies. Infection spreads rapidly when whitefly numbers are high in warm, dry weather.
Organic treatment
There is no cure. Pull out and bin infected plants as soon as symptoms appear to stop the spread, and keep controlling whiteflies on nearby plants.
Prevention
Control whiteflies with yellow sticky traps and neem oil, raise seedlings under insect netting, and plant resistant varieties. Remove weeds that host whiteflies.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Chemicals cannot cure the virus; insecticides labelled for whiteflies can reduce its spread when used early.