Is this CMV or aminopyralid damage or something else?

happydog · July 10, 2012

Sorry these pics are out of focus. I tried hard, but there was a slight breeze blowing them.

I took samples to the local cooperative extension service. They think it's herbicide damage. My garden is in the middle of 17 acres and we don't use chemicals. It would have had to drift from the neighbors who live about 600 feet away through a heavily wooded area.

This is on 6 tomato plants, in the middle of the row, right next to the woods. The last one is different, the edges of the leaves are looking kind of frizzled, like lettuce.

I use a composted chicken litter/manure that is OMRI certified organic. Other than that, they've gotten no fertilizer or anything else.

I've searched TV (and all the diagnostic charts linked) for CMV pics but these don't look quite the same as all the other CMV pics I've seen.

So, what do you think? CMV? And more importantly - should I pull these out and start over?

**Lee** · July 10, 2012

Looks more like herbicide damage than CMV to me as well.
Try finding a "healthy" tomato plant and put it in some of your
composted chicken manure. I suspect that may be your source as
a 1/10 mile drift from the neighbor would be unlikely.

Lee

happydog · July 10, 2012

You know, I really don't want to hear that. I bought a one ton bag of it and spread it all over the two pastures where I raise our milk cows. Oh I really don't want to hear that.
I spread that stuff all over my quarter acre organic vegetable garden. And my new perennial border with all my new rose bushes.

oh acckkk I hope it's not that.

happydog · July 10, 2012

Thank you. Sorry, I forgot my manners. I would sure rather it WAS cmv though. <weak grin>

**Lee** · July 10, 2012

I understand. I hope it is CMV, or something similar. Tomato plants
are very sensitive to the herbicide, so a healthy plant in the manure
would be a good test case independent of other parameters.

Keep us informed of the results!

Lee

Mlm1 · July 10, 2012

I had CMV a few years ago and had it tested at a lab at UCDavis so I know for sure it was CMV(they wanted to rule out tobacco mosaic since I guess it is hard to tell without testing) I had a range of "shoe stringing" with some very long thin shoe strings and other more twisted leaves. I definately had some that looked just like yours. It seems like you are too far from your neighbors for drift and since you put the composted chicken manure on all the plants and only a few have it my bet goes with CMV.

Marla

July 10, 2012	#1
happydog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Appalachian Mountains NC Posts: 151	Is this CMV or aminopyralid damage or something else? Sorry these pics are out of focus. I tried hard, but there was a slight breeze blowing them. I took samples to the local cooperative extension service. They think it's herbicide damage. My garden is in the middle of 17 acres and we don't use chemicals. It would have had to drift from the neighbors who live about 600 feet away through a heavily wooded area. This is on 6 tomato plants, in the middle of the row, right next to the woods. The last one is different, the edges of the leaves are looking kind of frizzled, like lettuce. I use a composted chicken litter/manure that is OMRI certified organic. Other than that, they've gotten no fertilizer or anything else. I've searched TV (and all the diagnostic charts linked) for CMV pics but these don't look quite the same as all the other CMV pics I've seen. So, what do you think? CMV? And more importantly - should I pull these out and start over?

July 10, 2012	#2
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Looks more like herbicide damage than CMV to me as well. Try finding a "healthy" tomato plant and put it in some of your composted chicken manure. I suspect that may be your source as a 1/10 mile drift from the neighbor would be unlikely. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 10, 2012	#5
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	I understand. I hope it is CMV, or something similar. Tomato plants are very sensitive to the herbicide, so a healthy plant in the manure would be a good test case independent of other parameters. Keep us informed of the results! Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 10, 2012	#6
Mlm1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 208	I had CMV a few years ago and had it tested at a lab at UCDavis so I know for sure it was CMV(they wanted to rule out tobacco mosaic since I guess it is hard to tell without testing) I had a range of "shoe stringing" with some very long thin shoe strings and other more twisted leaves. I definately had some that looked just like yours. It seems like you are too far from your neighbors for drift and since you put the composted chicken manure on all the plants and only a few have it my bet goes with CMV. Marla