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Tomato and pepper leaf deformities #870584

Asked May 29, 2024, 12:38 PM EDT

Hello, We are having issues with our tomato and pepper plantings this year. I believe the issue is either herbicide drift or mosaic virus. The plants are exhibiting upward curling and cupping paired with some thin leaves. The tomato plants seem to be affected more severely. The picture of the pepper shows the specimen with the most obvious symptoms of all our peppers. Our rows were planted starting the week of May 6th through the following week, all started from seed. When planted, they were showing signs of nutrient deficiency from being pot bound. They are planted in black woven ground cover with drip irrigation underneath, which is run when necessary. This nightshade block is planted in a location where they haven't been in three or more years. There aren't any noticeable problems with our other crops; cucumbers, squash, various greens, cut flowers (most of these were transplanted and seeded about a week or so later than the tomatoes). I did notice some similar problems with weeds in the vicinity that were removed recently. The plants have not been amended or trellised at this point. We are on one of the higher ridges in our area and have had high winds this past week with likely suboptimal irrigation consistency. We are bordered by larger farms, mostly planted in soybeans. Any clarification of the problem and additional resources on the topic would be much appreciated. We would also be willing to submit plant tissue samples if that is an option. Thank you for your time.

Madison County Ohio

Expert Response

From the pictures as they are now, it appears to me more like the beginnings of a virus than herbicide injury. Typically the stems will curl more with herbicide injury but that could change over the next few days. You can send a sample to the lab to narrow down what is going on: https://ppdc.osu.edu/ but I do not believe they sample for herbicides. If you don't want to pay for a sample, we will have to wait on symptoms to develop further. 

I would think if it is drift, you would see it on other plants but the plants you mentioned are not quite as susceptible as tomatoes and peppers. Check beans if you have any up, they too are very sensitive. It would be helpful if you know when the field was sprayed and which direction the wind was blowing. Please email me at <personal data hidden> on how you would like to proceed.

Thank you for the response.

 

What course of action would you recommend? Try to wait on it, or do a complete replacement of the crop? After investigating further, I have seen similar symptoms on other plants around the property like young catalpa tree leaves and other weeds like small ragweed. Those small ragweed and catalpa are in a different portion of the property, about an acre away from the tomatoes.

 

Ryan

 

From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> On Behalf Of Ask Extension
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 3:51 PM
To: Ryan Wesolowski <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Tomato and pepper leaf deformities (#0140504)

 

The Question Asker Replied May 29, 2024, 6:00 PM EDT

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