Can last years seeds cause curly-top virus problems this year?
Question: I had a severe problem with curly-top virus in my tomatoes last year. This disease was identified by my local County Agent. I am preparing to start my seedlings now and was wondering if plants grown from seed I saved last year will cause this year’s plants to be infected with curly-top. Dan F. Santa Rosa, NM Answer: Dr. Natalie Goldberg, NMSU Extension Plant Pathologist, assured me that curly-top virus is not seed borne. So, your saved seeds will not be a source of reinfection this year. However, Dr. Goldberg warned that since you had a problem last year, you can anticipate problems again. There are measures you can take to reduce the problem, and perhaps the weather this winter was also helpful in reducing the potential for curly-top next summer. If the fall and winter were dry, the curly-top virus may not have over-wintered well. The winter annual weeds that allow the virus to survive may not have developed or survived this winter. These weeds also provide winter food and h
