brown stem cause ?

4season · July 1, 2017

This plant was about 1/4 the size of the rest and had this brown on the stem. It went out with the trash last week. Anyone recognize what it was ?

RayR · July 2, 2017

It's probably impossible for anyone to say for sure what it was by just looking at the outside of a stem. If you sliced open the stem to get a picture of the vascular tissue that might have helped more. Browning of the stem and stunting could be a systemic bacterial or fungal infection or something else. ??????

ginger2778 · July 2, 2017

Could also be TRMs

Worth1 · July 2, 2017

What the heck are TRM's?
Worth

jillian · July 2, 2017

Thanks for asking that question Worth! I even Google it nothing came up

bower · July 2, 2017

I've seen pepper plant stems scarred pretty badly like that by slugs and snails. Of course you also find their damage, if not their fattened selves, in the peppers!

jillian · July 2, 2017

I bet it's tomato russet mites. I wanted to know bc I had a plant like that last year, brown stem stunted growth.

VC Scott · July 2, 2017

If it is tomato russet mites, 4Season should keep a close eye on other plants. TRM are spread by the wind, if they are in the garden on one plant, they are likely on others. When hot weather hits they multiply very quickly. You need a 30x magnifying glass to see them.

If they are on other plants, you might consider a preemptive strike with DE/pyrethrin

ginger2778 · July 2, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillian

I bet it's tomato russet mites. I wanted to know bc I had a plant like that last year, brown stem stunted growth.

Ding ding ding ding! Winner winner chicken dinner! Lol.

4season · July 2, 2017

I sliced the stem in a couple of places and it looked healthy. If it is tomato russet mites, it is another new pest/disease. There seems to be a new one every year to keep life interesting. Thanks for the info, now to research TRM.

gorbelly · July 4, 2017

Yep, I would suspect russet mites as well.

July 2, 2017	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	It's probably impossible for anyone to say for sure what it was by just looking at the outside of a stem. If you sliced open the stem to get a picture of the vascular tissue that might have helped more. Browning of the stem and stunting could be a systemic bacterial or fungal infection or something else. ??????

July 2, 2017	#3
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Could also be TRMs

July 2, 2017	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	What the heck are TRM's? Worth

July 2, 2017	#5
jillian Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 880	Thanks for asking that question Worth! I even Google it nothing came up

July 2, 2017	#6
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I've seen pepper plant stems scarred pretty badly like that by slugs and snails. Of course you also find their damage, if not their fattened selves, in the peppers!

July 2, 2017	#8
VC Scott Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 352	If it is tomato russet mites, 4Season should keep a close eye on other plants. TRM are spread by the wind, if they are in the garden on one plant, they are likely on others. When hot weather hits they multiply very quickly. You need a 30x magnifying glass to see them. If they are on other plants, you might consider a preemptive strike with DE/pyrethrin

July 2, 2017	#10
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	I sliced the stem in a couple of places and it looked healthy. If it is tomato russet mites, it is another new pest/disease. There seems to be a new one every year to keep life interesting. Thanks for the info, now to research TRM.

July 4, 2017	#11
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Yep, I would suspect russet mites as well.