Damage can be reduced significantly by keeping the land free of weeds and grass for several weeks before planting. The adults are dark and winged, and the nymphs are wingless and yellow. They feed by rasping the young leaves of the bud and sucking out fluid. Thrips transmit this disease. Initial symptoms of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus appear as a thickening of veins on young foliage within the leaves, curling inward and downward.
Internodes shorten, and immature fruit fails to ripen.
Dark purple streaks can occur on the leaves, stems, and fruits. Symptoms may also show up as a blighting and blackening of young shoots. On individual leaflets, small, dark, circular dead spots may appear and later have a bronzed appearance. Badly spotted leaves may turn dark and wither. The fruits are generally reduced in size, distorted, and have irregular yellowish blotches.