Field library

Cotton Leaf Curl Virus

Leaves curl upward, the veins thicken and darken on the underside, and small leaf-like outgrowths appear on the vein underside. Plants stay stunted and set few bolls. The virus itself cannot be sprayed — it is carried plant to plant by whitefly, so controlling whitefly early is the only real defence.

How to scout

Check plants from the third week after sowing. Look down the row for plants noticeably shorter than their neighbours, then examine the vein underside of their top leaves.