Tomato leaf curl virus is a major disease which causes significant loss and needs to be managed. If well managed, vegetables are more profitable.
Tomato leaf curl virus is caused by a virus, spread by white flies, when sucking plant juices and affects tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, potatoes and tobacco. New leaves are small, wrinkled and curl upwards. The flowers abortion before fruiting and affected plants appear stunted.
Control of white flies
Since the disease is spread by white flies, controlling them translates into controlling of the spread of the disease. White flies are difficult to control with insecticides.
Protect seedlings from white flies by making the nursery in a net house. Use trap crops like maize, millet and sorghum. Repel them using aromatic crops like coriander, tumeric and mint. Use natural enemies like lady birds. Marigold or sun flower also attracts them.
Use yellow trap cards, if not readily available, make them yourself. Spray using home made pesticide using ginger, garlic and chilli in the morning or evening. At early stage of crop development, spray using neem oil to prevent white fly attack.
Disease management
Plant resistant varieties. Extract seed from healthy plants.
Apply farm yard manure. Uproot and burn infected plants.
