You can't put a link to a photo on your first post, so here is a picture of the problem.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:587466}}

Possibly chlorosis (iron deficiency). Also, have you checked ph level?

t98

So I use those citrus stakes, how would I check ph? Those stakes don't have the proper amount of iron?

Thanks!

In addition to some of the leaves on my Persian Lime tree having the yellow stripes, the leaves of an entire section have shriveled and turned brown and the small fruit is withering. There was a posting about a similar problem in from jagfan on Oct 18 08. However, aside from the advice to make a call for testing there was no indication of what the problem could be. In some places there are signs of some insect infestation (but not throughout the entire section). Any suggestions please?

Where do you live? have the temps been above 55 consistently night and day?
What do you fertilize with and how often? How is your soil? Does it dry out fast and free draining?
Do you use vinegar?
Is it in full sun?

Fe deficiency can be caused by many things..It could also be a Mg and calcium need too..

Mike

Not iron and not Mg. Looks like Manganese to me. However, treatment is as for iron -- most often due to a too-high soil pH. Manganese sulfate can be used as a foliar spray if you don't want to mess with the soil.

Interestingly, at least in Florida commercial citrus, Mn deficiency doesn't seem to reduce yield nor to affect fruit quality, at all!

Malcolm M. Manners
John and Ruth Tyndall Professor of Citrus Science
Florida Southern College

Malcolm, where can you get Manganese sulfate?

Thank you for helping here..

If it's high pH, will vinegar/water work to bring it down sufficiently?

Josh

Mike, It's available at Lowes, Home Depot, etc., here. Also larger private nurseries with a good set of supplies. Beware of ill-informed sales help who will proclaim it the same as epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), which it is not.

Josh, Vinegar in water will temporarily lower soil pH, but it is a very temporary thing, as is true for all the organic (by that, I mean "organic" in the chemical sense -- carbon-based -- rather than in the "natural" sense) acids. Still, worth a try.

By looking at your picture, it appears that the top leafs are mottled. I can't tell for certain because they are blurry. I think either you have iron deficiency, or possibly have citrus greening. I hope it is just an iron problem. Google greening and asian psyllids. Check for any small winged bugs on new growth esp. at night.

Eb3604, Iron deficiency causes green veins with no green border at all along their sides -- just the vein. In this case, there is a nice wide border of green to the sides of the veins, ruling out iron, but indicating (with virtual certainty) manganese.

Greening does cause splotching, but ALWAYS asymmetrical splotching; i.e., the spots on one side of the midvein do not match anything on the other side. In this case, the pattern is quite symmetrical, again indicating a mineral nutrient deficiency, not greening.

Malcolm M. Manners
John and Ruth Tyndall Professor of Citrus Science
Florida Southern College
Lakeland

Dr. Manners is right in that the symtoms are classic for (early] manganese deficiency. But I almost always see this as a warning that additional nutrient deficiencies are likely to likely to begin. The zinc inverted chevron may be next or it can come on fast with a mix with iron and magnesium symtoms added.

And they are caused in our region from excess calcium carbonate in the water and soil. Any addition to the soil is then futile until it is made more acid. Magnesium is the only one easily cured by soil treatment.

Manganese sulfate is unavailable in S.E. Texas unless you buy 5O lbs at $95. Lab Chemical dealers will ask almost the same for a few hundred grams. Manganese sulfate is unstable and is easily oxidized so it makes a black residue and is a headache in large quantities.

You may be lucky if your local Home Deot store carries Southern Ag's Citrus Nutritional chelated mix (use as a foliar].

I have not been able to get anyone to stock Southern Ag's 5# bags of manganese sulfate. Sagos get a disease which is easily treated by Manganese sulfate.

About a month ago I gave my own mix as a cure for some citrus in advanced nutrient decline but with no source for the ingredients I will hold on that now. Or go to the "Question about sick Citrus" for the advanced stages and treatments.

Larry