Leaf Trouble- Help ID, Please!

[kath]

I've been pulling off a few fairly new leaves from my Starfire Isis Cherry tomato plant for the past week or two because they have appeared to be turning yellow and becoming speckled starting at the tips. In hindsight, I wish I'd taken pics of the first ones I pulled because they were more affected than the ones I spotted today.

This is something I've never seen before so I looked up viruses in general but can't find anything that looks the same. The leaves on the whole plant look puckered or blistered so I was wondering about TMV. Is the puckering maybe normal for this new variety? The vast majority of the leaves look very green and healthy.

I'm really tempted to pull the plant in case this is something really bad that can spread but don't want to be too hasty.HELP!

TIA~

kath

[Paradajz]

have you by any chance checked those back sides with a solid magnyfier?

[kath]

Originally Posted by Paradajz

have you by any chance checked those back sides with a solid magnyfier?

Good question- yes, and I couldn't see any insects.

kath

[Heritage]

Hi kath,

Check out 'edema' and see if it fits.

Good luck!
Steve

[kath]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Hi kath,

Check out 'edema' and see if it fits.

Good luck!
Steve

Although we've had lots of rain, the bumps are on the wrong side of the leaves and none of the images I found seem close at all.

Thanks for the suggestion, Steve.

kath

[Heritage]

Kath, which side of your leaves are you seeing bumps? is the brown area along the leaf axis (in the right leaf in the third photo) a rough texture or smooth?

[Heritage]

also, is this the only plant showing the symptoms?

[bcday]

I am inclined to think that the quilted appearance of the foliage is a characteristic of that variety. Maybe you could contact your seed source and ask. The brown speckles at the tips and the brown area along one vein on the underside look like damage from some chewing insect.

[kath]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Kath, which side of your leaves are you seeing bumps? is the brown area along the leaf axis (in the right leaf in the third photo) a rough texture or smooth?

The top side is lumpy. I think it was rough- the leaves have since been trashed.

Originally Posted by Heritage

also, is this the only plant showing the symptoms?

Yes, the only one out of about 100 and planted close enough together that its leaves are touching its neighbors.

Originally Posted by bcday

I am inclined to think that the quilted appearance of the foliage is a characteristic of that variety. Maybe you could contact your seed source and ask. The brown speckles at the tips and the brown area along one vein on the underside look like damage from some chewing insect.

I can contact the seller and ask about the appearance of the leaves because I've only seen a photo of the fruit. When I looked for insects with the hand lens I was surprised not to find any but yesterday I saw several immature Japanese beetles in the tomatoes so I wonder if it could be damage from one of them. Today all the remaining leaves still look fine.

Thanks for your input.

kath

[pinklady5]

Kath,

I grew Isis Candy (same as Isis Cherry?) last year and I remember short thick stocky foliage but I can't remember bumps. I don't have a seed source because it was an impulse purchase from the local nursery. Someone here has to be growing this plant for comparison.

[Paradajz]

i'd still allow some of those leafs to come to complete symptoms stage and than check it.
you shouldn't be afraid of it: if it was some horrible disease, the risk of spreading it when cuting and manipulating those leafs would be equal or larger than leaving them on the plant

[Heritage]

Kath, we're talking about different "bumps" - the semi-rugose leaf might be normal for that variety, but the rough, bumpy, growth on the underside leaf mid-vein, is typical of a mild case of edema. (also, could be old insect damage, e.g., a mite infestation halted) The distorted, crooked mid-vein is also typical of edema and often the top of the leaf will look 'humped' because of the distortion.

I don't think you have a virus or anything serious (or contagious) with that plant, but please keep the updates coming. I am only about 70% sure of my guess, but about 95% sure it isn't a virus

Steve

[kath]

Originally Posted by pinklady5

Kath,

I grew Isis Candy (same as Isis Cherry?) last year and I remember short thick stocky foliage but I can't remember bumps. I don't have a seed source because it was an impulse purchase from the local nursery. Someone here has to be growing this plant for comparison.

Starfire Isis is a variety bred by J & L Gardens- not the same as Isis Cherry.

[kath]

Originally Posted by Paradajz

i'd still allow some of those leafs to come to complete symptoms stage and than check it.
you shouldn't be afraid of it: if it was some horrible disease, the risk of spreading it when cuting and manipulating those leafs would be equal or larger than leaving them on the plant

Yes, I'll definitely let them be if any more develop. Point well taken about spreading horrible diseases- thanks.

kath

[kath]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Kath, we're talking about different "bumps" - the semi-rugose leaf might be normal for that variety, but the rough, bumpy, growth on the underside leaf mid-vein, is typical of a mild case of edema. (also, could be old insect damage, e.g., a mite infestation halted) The distorted, crooked mid-vein is also typical of edema and often the top of the leaf will look 'humped' because of the distortion.

I don't think you have a virus or anything serious (or contagious) with that plant, but please keep the updates coming. I am only about 70% sure of my guess, but about 95% sure it isn't a virus

Steve

What you say about the semi-rugose leaves makes perfect sense. The plant looks perfectly healthy except for the few leaves that have had this issue. I've send an inquiry to Lee and J & L Gardens about the leaf type and I'll post about what he says. This new variety is listed among their top sellers so maybe someone else here is growing it.

I can see what you mean about the edema in terms of it being a mild case. We did have over 10" of water in June and enough in April and May to cause our peas to have a couple of bouts with whatever condition they get when there's too much water (can't think of the name). There aren't any other tomatoes showing symptoms yet, though, and this plant is in the row of tomatoes that's in the highest part with regard to drainage.

Don't know that I've ever had problems with mites and from what I've been reading here about them recently, I hope I never do.

Your comment about it not being something serious, viral or contagious has saved its life for now.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about all this.

kath