Well clearly not healthy plants but the photos are so out of focus and close up it is difficult to pic out any details. The first photo shows some ragged leaf edges which normally means pests, not any disease and the leaves appear to be gnarly/twisted almost like herbicide or some other spray damage but the stems aren't. is that dead foliage in the bottom of the second photo or what?

Is is possible to post a better photo that shows the leaves better? Shoot it from the side of the plant not down on it so more detail is clear. Also include your location as that can make a difference in narrowing down possibilities. What variety are the plants?

Dave

new pics. in durham nc. variety cherokee carbon.

dave, if helpful I would be happy to send pics to you directly

The second picture looks like herbicide damage. The first pic looks like insecticide/fungicide/fertilizer damage from applying a too high a rate or when the sun is full on. Have you been spraying anything?

The plants were not treated with anything prior to this appearing. Since, and only once this week, I applied a fungicide with no change.

Not necessary these are much better pics. The top pic looks like Septoria so you remove the affected leaves and spray with fungicide weekly. It won't cure it just slow it down.

The second and third, IF there has been no herbicide use, could be CMV (Cucumber Mosaic virus) but the overly dark green color makes me suspect nitrogen overdose. Possible??

Dave

Nitrogen overdose possible. The soil was placed maybe 6 years ago with a suggested 1/4 mixture of chicken manure. I have recently been told the nitrogen doesn't decrease over time.

All pics from same plant.

Suggestions?

You have added no N except the chicken manure 6 years ago? Nitrogen in soil does decrease over time, it vaporizes readily. So then that lets nitrogen burn out. And that brings us back to either CMV or herbicide drift. If you haven't used any on your property then neighbors may have. It can drift for 1/2-3/4 mile.

This early in the season I'd be inclined to pull that plant and replace it. Take it to the county extension office and see if they can ID the problem.

Dave

Just thought of something. We are using mosquito Joe this year and spraying began a few weeks ago and I know the tomato plants have been exposed to that.. Could that be it?

Isn't Septoria symptomatic of black spots as opposed to tan or brown as appears in the first pic? And Septoria spotting look more like specks at first as opposed to blotches. My plants have a bit of Septoria and don't look like that.

Mosquito Joe sprays concentrated garlic juice on your garden and other thick areas to chase the mosquitoes to the perimeter of the yard tree line where they have sprayed a synthetic form of Pyrethrin called Pyrethroids. Natural Pyrethrins are derived from the chrysanthemum flower. They are not supposed to harm plants. But you may want to further research them. Mosquito Joe is not supposed to spray the Pyretrins on your garden... only the garlic juice. At least, that is what my applicator is telling me.

I use Mosquito Joe as of this year, and so far, I do not see any ill effects of my tomatoes or my landscaping.

Let's get back to the subjec of herbicide.

If none was used in the viciniity, was any manure, composted or not, added to the soil -- either mixed in or as mulch?

If so, please consider herbicide carryover; see

http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/sfn/f09Herbicide

Nothing added to soil and no herbicides used for 2-3 years

I guess the question I'd have is: are the leaves growing deformed looking or were those healthy leaves that just started getting all contorted? I keep looking at that second picture particularly and thinking it looks exactly like severe leaf miner damage that my citrus leaves get if I don't spray for larvae. Probably unlikely that's the issue but it looks so similar it keeps bothering me.

The leaves were healthy and became damaged.