Cause of deformed leaves

bigbubbacain · March 29, 2010

I have this issue with a few of my plants. They started growing just fine, then I noticed that the new growth is a little deformed looking. The first pic is of Sun Sugar. The second is Super Marzano.

Do any of you know what causes this, and do I need to remove the plants and start fresh with new ones-while I still have time?

creister · March 29, 2010

Perosonally, I would pull them. I had that show up on a few last year, and never figured out what it was. it looked like it was going to spread, so I pulled the plant. Once I pulled I think it was two or three, no more problems.

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · March 29, 2010

I would suggest checking out this tomatoville stiky post I had some of these same deformaties and pulled some and let some grow and they did produce some fruit. Not sure if this is what you have but just throwing out something to look at.
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=9077

Craig

**carolyn137** · March 29, 2010

I see just one cupped leaf on the first picture but the second one looks like Leaf Roll to me, which is different from Leaf Curl.

Leaf Roll is the result of improper ratio of root to foliage mass and occurs usually early in the season. As the plants mature that imblance is corrected and they do fine. If the leaves roll into a very tight roll then check for aphids.

Leaf curl occurs for many reasons, the leaves don't curl into a tight roll and Leaf Curl can occur if it's too wet, too dry, too cold or too hot, take your pick, and most hybrids normally have leaves that curl. Yes, leaf curl can also indicate a possible disease situation but usually there are other symptoms that accompany it.

If plants are stunted along with Leaf Curl or Leaf Roll, then I usually have pulled them.

bigbubbacain · March 30, 2010

Thank you all, for giving me some things to consider here.

Thank you, Carolyn. A few of your causes listed for leaf roll are pertinent in my situation: "too wet, too cold". The ratio of root to foliage has been high because I grew the seeds in a hydro/aeroponic culture, but I never had this problem before. The whole plant itself isn't stunted, just the new growth at the top.

RandyG · March 30, 2010

Check out the thread started by duajones regarding leaf roll and my response regarding aminopyralid, which is in the commonly used herbicide Milestone for grass lands and hay fields. If you folks are using manure, compost or grass or hay mulching materials from outside sources, there is a chance you are getting contamination from herbicide. I am not saying this is what you have for sure, but the pictures posted here sure look a lot like this type of damage. It is typical too for the plants to grow normally for a while and then start to show the symptoms in the new growth in tops of plants as the roots reach out and pick up the material. This herbicide damage has been widespread in Great Britain and showed up quite a bit in the U.S. last year.
RandyG

March 29, 2010	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I see just one cupped leaf on the first picture but the second one looks like Leaf Roll to me, which is different from Leaf Curl. Leaf Roll is the result of improper ratio of root to foliage mass and occurs usually early in the season. As the plants mature that imblance is corrected and they do fine. If the leaves roll into a very tight roll then check for aphids. Leaf curl occurs for many reasons, the leaves don't curl into a tight roll and Leaf Curl can occur if it's too wet, too dry, too cold or too hot, take your pick, and most hybrids normally have leaves that curl. Yes, leaf curl can also indicate a possible disease situation but usually there are other symptoms that accompany it. If plants are stunted along with Leaf Curl or Leaf Roll, then I usually have pulled them. __________________ Carolyn

March 29, 2010	#2
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Perosonally, I would pull them. I had that show up on a few last year, and never figured out what it was. it looked like it was going to spread, so I pulled the plant. Once I pulled I think it was two or three, no more problems.

March 29, 2010	#3
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	I would suggest checking out this tomatoville stiky post I had some of these same deformaties and pulled some and let some grow and they did produce some fruit. Not sure if this is what you have but just throwing out something to look at. http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=9077 Craig

March 30, 2010	#5
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	Thank you all, for giving me some things to consider here. Thank you, Carolyn. A few of your causes listed for leaf roll are pertinent in my situation: "too wet, too cold". The ratio of root to foliage has been high because I grew the seeds in a hydro/aeroponic culture, but I never had this problem before. The whole plant itself isn't stunted, just the new growth at the top.

March 30, 2010	#6
RandyG Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: western North Carolina Posts: 84	Check out the thread started by duajones regarding leaf roll and my response regarding aminopyralid, which is in the commonly used herbicide Milestone for grass lands and hay fields. If you folks are using manure, compost or grass or hay mulching materials from outside sources, there is a chance you are getting contamination from herbicide. I am not saying this is what you have for sure, but the pictures posted here sure look a lot like this type of damage. It is typical too for the plants to grow normally for a while and then start to show the symptoms in the new growth in tops of plants as the roots reach out and pick up the material. This herbicide damage has been widespread in Great Britain and showed up quite a bit in the U.S. last year. RandyG