Please help with diagnosis

[mysidx]

I have been getting this purple/black coloring on my project dwarf plants..Freds Tye dye and Kangaroo Paw green. Predominately the freds Tye Dye plants. Keep in mind that one of the plants are in the garden clear across the yard and the others are in containers. Could this be a deficiency or a disease/virus that I'm looking at, because it is making me nervous. I don't notice this on any of my indeterminate s I'm am growing.

[mysidx]

Any help would be appreciated.

[Heritage]

mysidx,

Are those mostly bottom leaves? Or upper?

Steve

[baileyj]

Fungus ? Are you preventatively spraying them ?

[mysidx]

Originally Posted by Heritage

mysidx,

Are those mostly bottom leaves? Or upper?

Steve

No, it seems to be on the new growth as well but just around the edges. The pictures were taken from various leaves and the older ones do show more signs of it.

[mysidx]

Originally Posted by baileyj

Fungus ? Are you preventatively spraying them ?

I have sprayed for pests, but no I have not sprayed a fungicide or copper spray.

The coloring was so gradual, that I thought it could be some nutrient deficiency.

[ObliqueAngles]

Hi,

Just for the heck of it, you might want to check out the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus "sticky" forum at the top of Garden Diseases and Pests.

It does look a bit like it based on the photos, but I've never seen it in person so I can't say for sure. It seems that a number of posters in the South have had issues with TSWV over the last couple of years, so it's something to consider based on your photos.

[feldon30]

That does not look, at first glance, like TSVW to me. I am also thinking nutrient deficiency.

Just FYI, I see a small LeafMiner trail on one leaf- you should watch that.

[mysidx]

Originally Posted by feldon30

That does not look, at first glance, like TSVW to me. I am also thinking nutrient deficiency.

I don't see anything similar on any of my indeterminates. Like I mentioned earlier, two of my Dwarf plants are in the ground and show the same thing as the ones in containers. The containers medium was a mixture of compost,Metro mix, and dolomite. They've been fed triple 14 slow release, and that's all.

[Heritage]

I almost always get symptoms on my container grown tomato similar to photos #3 and #4, although mine usually have the additional interveinal yellowing which, together with the purple shown in your photos, are the classic signs of magnesium deficiency. In addition to an actual shortage, magnesium deficiency can be caused by a soil with too high concentration of potassium. I have treated my container plants with Epsom salts when they show the signs but never really noticed much improvement. In the end, it doesn't seem to affect the overall tomato production.

I does seem strange in your case that both the container grown and soil-grown plants are showing the same symptoms. I wouldn't expect the same deficiencies in both soils.

Photo #2 looks similar to TSWV but not definite enough to pull the plant. If possible, I would isolate, and observe, the plant showing the symptoms in photo #2.

Anyway, those are my best guesses. And they are only guesses...

Good luck!
Steve

[mysidx]

Originally Posted by JoParrott

Just FYI, I see a small LeafMiner trail on one leaf- you should watch that.

I had really good success preventing leaf miners since I planted out in early March. I have sprayed spanosad, and hand picked any leaves with signs. Only now am I seeing activity and with so many plants it is hard to eradicate them completely.

[b54red]

I have seen TSWV present just like in the first two photos; but I have also seen deficiencies present the same way. You could possible have too much of a mineral or trace element.

If it is TSWV you will know for sure in a week or so by the deterioration of the plant and the new growth usually will become stunted and start showing a darkening. Go to some of the sights that show symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in tomatoes and maybe you will find a solution. Good Luck.

[mysidx]

Ok, I'm thinking Magnesium deficiency or could it be over watering. I will be spraying neem oil on them just in case it could be fungal, I just hate spraying that unless I'm sure.

[b54red]

It sure doesn't look like a fungal disease to me and I have probably had most of them at one time or another. If it is TSWV or a deficiency of some type the Neem oil will do nothing for it.
Maybe Carolyn has an idea what is causing your problem.