What is Bunchy Top Tomato Plant Virus?

Although it is an icon and beloved from the East Coast to the West Coast, it is truly amazing that the tomato plant has come so far. After all, this fruit is one of the most difficult fruits in the garden and has certainly managed to develop many unusual diseases. Tomato Bunchy Top Virus is just one of the serious problems that can make gardeners vomit in their frustration. While the Tomato Bunchy Top Virus may seem like a fun disease, it is no laughing matter. Read on to find out how to spot the Bunchy Top and what you can do about it.

What is Bunchy Top?

Tomato Bunchy Top virus, also known as Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid when infected with potato, is a serious problem in the garden. Tomato Bunchy Top Viroid causes the new leaves that emerge from the top of the vine to pile up tightly, curl and wrinkle. Not only is this disorder unattractive, but it also reduces the number of viable flowers to almost zero. If a gardener is lucky enough to get fruit from a plant affected by the Bunchy Top, it is likely that it will be tiny and very hard.

Treatment of tomato head virus

Currently, there is no known treatment for Bunchy Top on tomato leaves, but you should immediately destroy any plants that show signs to prevent the disease from spreading to your other plants. It is believed to be partially spread by aphids, therefore a strong aphid prevention program should be implemented after detection of Bunchy Top.

Plant tissues and fluids are another potential means of transmission. So be very careful when working with Bunchy Top plants to disinfect your equipment before moving on to healthy plants. Bunchy Top is thought to be seed-borne, so you should never save seeds from plants that have the disease or from plants nearby that may have shared common insect pests.

Bunchy Top is a devastating disease for hobby gardeners – after all, you’ve put your heart and soul into growing a plant only to discover that it will never bear fruit successfully. In the future, you can save yourself a lot of headaches by buying certified, virus-free seed from reputable seed companies.