Cause Beet curly top virus (BCTV), which is spread by beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus). BCTV has an extensive host range infecting many common crops include bean, beet, sugar beet, cucurbits, spinach, potato, peppers, tomato, hemp, and certain annual flowers. Curly top is observed frequently on a range of crops in the Columbia Basin, southern Idaho, central Washington, and central Oregon. BCTV infects and overwinters in wild perennial or winter annual hosts, some of which are used by beet leafhopper for feeding and reproduction. Beet leafhopper acquires BCTV by feeding on infected plants and spreads the virus to annual crops in spring and summer. This virus was detected at relatively high levels in two seed fields in the state of Washington in 2020.
Symptoms The predominant symptoms reported include stunting, mild leaf curling, pale-green-to yellow to red and purple coloration of leaves and stems.
Cultural control
- Monitor and manage beet leafhopper
- Roguing of BCTV-infected plants
- The use of reflective mulches may reduce virus spread.
Reference Swisher Grimm, K.D., Crosslin, J.M., Cooper, W.R., Frost, K.E., du Toit, L.J., and Wohleb, C.H. 2021. First report of curly top of Coriandrum sativum caused by beet curly top virus in the Columbia Basin of Washinton State. Plant Disease 105(10):https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-21-0041-PDN.