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Is this a virus?
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Posted by jimla Z6 PA (My Page) on Sun, Apr 19, 09 at 14:53
| Last year and this year my marigolds are not doing well under the lights. They germinated and sprouted Ok but growth over the last 6 weeks seems to have stopped at two sets of leaves. The leaves have purple spots on their margins. Some web research mentioned a virus spread by thrips. And that it can spread to tomatos and peppers that I also grow from seed. The San Marzanos and Black Krim look green and healthy but the Rutgers are noticeably yellow green. Today I notices purple streaked stems on my bell peppers and a purple vein down the middle of the leaves. Otehrwiseboth peppers and tomatoes are about 6-7 ins tall and healthy looking.
Does this sound like a virus? Will the plants survive and produce or should i trash them now? How can I presvent it next year?
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Is this a virus?
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| Plant viruses usually (although not always) produce mottled, striped, mosaic, or speckled patterns. Purple leaves and yellow leaves can be a general sign of stress or of a nutrient deficiency (or, in some cases, leaf burn from too much nutrients). * Are your plants on heat mats?
* What are your air temperatures?
* Are your plants covered?
* Are these plants indoors that you started from seeds? If so, why are you worried about thrips - have you seen thrips?
* What's your soil look like, and how have you been fertilizing? Don't trash the plants until we figure this out. Do you have any photos? |
RE: Is this a virus? (2)
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| IMHO, viruses are often "pretty diseases". They can make your plant look neat or unusual as they kill or maim it. Random examples: The tomato spotted wilt virus:
 Cucumber mosaic virus (closeup; from a distance, it looks like speckles):
 Plum pox virus:
 Squash leaf curl virus:
 Barley yellow dwarf virus:
 Etc. As a gross oversimplification, if the disease looks pretty, suspect a virus. ;) |
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