We have seen a couple scattered cases of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in Southern NJ greenhouses this spring. Be on the lookout for any tomato plants that seem abnormal — specifically look for yellowed, stunted, or curled foliage (see picture below). Symptoms may vary based on tomato variety, degree of infections, weather, and many other factors, so primarily look for plants that differ from surrounding plants. If you have plants with such symptoms, you should proactively rogue them out to prevent secondary spread of the virus. If you need help diagnosing issues, please contact us with the form at the bottom of this post.
Two examples of TSWV in greenhouse tomatoes. The tomato on the left shows yellowed foliage, but not a lot of curling, while the one on the right shows much more curling and distortion.
TSWV is spread by thrips (primarily western flower thrips), which are favored by greenhouse conditions. If you are producing greenhouse tomatoes or transplants, it is a good idea to monitor with yellow sticky cards to determine thrips arrival, presence, and population increases.
Yellow sticky card for monitoring thrips. Black circles indicate some of the thrips on the card — note the small size of thrips relative to other insects.
Thrips management requires a multi-pronged approach for success. To learn more about management of TSWV and thrips, read more here.
If you suspect TSWV and would like help with identification, or have other concerns, fill out the form below:
