Spotted wilt virus or Septoria?

12 years ago

or something else?

Only my potted plants are affected (two out of 5), I think they are both brandywine. My druzba plants and in-ground brandies are holding up but I am keeping an eye on them too.

They're planted in general potting soil with peatmoss and perlite + a little composted manure, with ground eggshell and a little lime and epsom salts added. They also get manure tea, once or twice per week.

All plants are mulched with shredded paper and dry leaves, and have had the bottom 1' of foliage removed, gradually, since they were planted.

We've had some unusually cool and wet weather for the past 3-4 weeks, which is what I believe has contributed to the problem, if not even caused it.
Weather has now picked up a bit and most plants have perked up, but a few of them (all potted ones) have developed odd looking little spots/bumps. I removed the funny looking leaves and sprayed all my plants with 1:10 milk-water solution once, a week ago. It seems to have helped some but these two plants have gone worse. I will spray everything again tomorrow.

The spots are randomly distributed, all over the plants, not just the bottom leaves. There are even spots on the top, fresh growth. Would that mean the disease didn't come from soil but other source (e.g. thrips=spotted wilt virus)?
I have not noticed any little insects, but then again maybe i'm not looking carefully enough..

Any help would be appreciated.

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Comments (7)

osga34
Original Author
12 years ago
more photos.......
osga34
Original Author
12 years ago

macro
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jean001a
12 years ago
Not a virus.

Those are awfully small pots for those soon to be much large plants.
osga34
Original Author
12 years ago
jean001a, thanks for the response.

I sure hope you are right and it's not a virus.. but then what could it be? something bacterial? bact.speck/spot?

I just checked the plants again and it turns out all my 3 potted brandywines are affected, none of the druzbas, and none of the in-ground plants. I rubbed the brown spots a little, they feel dry and crunchy. The surrounding leaf tissue feels normal. The spots look the same from the leaf underside too.

Didn't spray them yet (as planned), i'm actually not sure what to do right now (and what not to), don't want to make ti worse.

I know the pots are on the smaller side (most are 5gal, this one i think 6gal), it's all i had available.
The plants were planted about the same time as the ones in the ground (~6-8 weeks ago), and they aren't even half as vigorous, but they're equally tall (the pictured one is 4-1/2ft (without the pot)), so doubt they'll grow much larger..
Next year i won't bother with the pots at all, i'll save them for the peppers, they don't seem to mind as much.
jean001a
12 years ago
The brown spots are between the veins. Indicates water shortage.
osga34
Original Author
12 years ago
On the contrary, they've been getting plenty of water, even too much, from the heavy rains over the past month or so.
jean001a
12 years ago
Roots damaged by excess water develop problems absorbing water. I f they remain saturated, they die.