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jbell1033

Citrus virus?

11 years ago

We have a young Lisbon lemon in the ground in our backyard. It is approximately 4 years in the ground from a five gallon size. We've had leaf miners and orange dogwood damage which I can identify, but I can't identify the cause of these leaf damages. The research I've done leads me to chlorotic dwarf virus or tristeza virus. The posts I've found around the web always ask for pictures to here we go. Any help is appreciated. John

Comments (17)

  • 11 years ago

    Another picture.

  • 11 years ago

    Another.

  • 11 years ago

    Another.

  • 11 years ago

    One last one.

  • 11 years ago

    I have had similar leaf damage on my citrus. This picture is my Lisbon lemon about 1 year ago. I posted to the forum and leaf miner was suggested, but it is not. No real good answer was given. Perhaps this time a few different suggestions will be posted. On mention was, over feeding.

  • 11 years ago

    Over fertilization. Hard to tell in some photos but it looks like you might have citrus leaf miner too. If there are squiggly lines on the leaves that look kind of like a maze that is definitely citrus leaf miner. If the leaves seem malformed or bubble like and hard and you have recently had a growth flush after fertilizing you have over fed your citrus tree which is no big deal just don't fertilize again until March or April when you see the next flush of growth starting.
    Evan

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks Evan. That confirms it for me. I have had CLM and the leaves are very distinct with the tunnels on the underside being very visible.. These leaves are hard and have some bubble-like lesions. It is over feeding as was mentioned before. I will have to cut back a little, however, the mis-shapened leaves are of no concern to me unless of concern to the plant.

  • 11 years ago

    John All my citrus trees have a combination of perfect leaves, twisted leaves,,rolled leaves, stunted leaves, discolored leaves and new growth stem damage. I also see the same problems on all the native trees to. Welcome to growing citrus. You may have a real ,but not serious, problem so keep an eye on it and read what others have to write here.

    Steve

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks to all who responded. Over feeding is definitely a possibility. I sunk 3 inch diameter by 6 inch long pvc pipes around the tree and filled with an organic fertilizer. My original problem was micronutrient deficiencies and the organic was suggested by my local nursery. Guess I over did it. Thanks again for the comments. John

  • 11 years ago

    John, was it Jobe's organic fertilizer?
    Evan

  • 11 years ago

    No, Dr. Earth's Home Grown Organic. 5-7-3 Bone meal, fish meal, feather meal. alfalfa meal, kelp and seaweed. The first time we used it we just broadcast it around the tree, but our two dogs loved the smell and taste. By burying it I stopped the dogs, but applied too much. (apparently)

  • 11 years ago

    Poncirusguy, your leaves seemn healthy, even if deformed. Jbell1033's citrus seems unhealthy and deformed.
    Tatter leaf virus maybe?

  • 11 years ago

    Current picture of mangled vegetation on my sweetlee tangerine tree. I could not resist snapping the tree in it's early morning fog. The tree is in my greenhouse and the fog is from the vent from my water heater. I'll post another picture when the fog rolls on out of the valley (condenses on the glass). I see the same thing often on my trees. I just snap that part of the twig off just above the last reasonable leaf. I do agree that the tree has a problem, but I don't think it is disease.

    Seed grown sweetlee tangerine tree with the top 3 inches snapped off

    This post was edited by poncirusguy on Sun, Nov 23, 14 at 9:43

  • 11 years ago

    Fog has rolled out of the pristine valley and the damage is more visible. I crushed and removed the trimmed twigs to kill spider mites if there were any. Growing citrus trees involves pruning out bad sections to rid infestations.

  • 11 years ago

    My Meyer lemon looks similar to these pic BUT, I also have fruit that is speckled brown or a lot of brown and somewhat hard. I also had this on the orange last year. This is the first year for the lemon problem. I have not fertilized so that isn't the problem. When I had my trees trimmed the owner said it was a virus - don't know what kind or how t treat it.

  • 11 years ago

    The brown spots on your fruit are most likely caused by birds pecking the peel when it is green; they are looking for citrus oil which they put on their feathers as a miticide.

  • 8 years ago

    Yes mine looks the same. The branches with this, whatever it is, will not bare fruit. I have tried pruning the trees but it comes back. The fruit which is turning now gets light brown areas on it though it does not seem to cause the fruit to taste bad. It is a Meyers lemon and I have an orange with the same. I have never fertilized either tree. I live in Texas and had thought it might be from lack of water at times.

    Any info would e appreciated.