CMV Vs. Herbicide damage...

[duhvinci]

CMV Vs. Herbicide damage? Can't really tell for sure... I've been gone for a week, weather was nice back home, but what wasn't nice, is whatever is taking over 90% of my plants!

Leaf distortion and "dwarfing" looks very much to what bvgardener showing and describing in his thread here. Some plants are worse than others by far (worse appearing are the wispy foliage hearts mostly).

Few appear to be unaffected, including those "cross-hemisphere project" dwarfs for some reason...

I'm unable to find any place locally to test the plants, and to me, CMV and herbicide damage appearance are very very similar. There is a piece of land (2 acres between us and the next property), unbuilt, and full of mature weeds of all varieties, so from what I've read, this can easily transfer (if it is CMV) to my plot).

So at this time, I'm going to give it a little more time (a week or so, just to see what happens)... If it is Herbicide, do plants ever recover from it or is it a lost battle?

If it is CMV, I guess in a week or so, I will have to pull all the affected plants? And if it is CMV, I know there is "no known" cure, but I found this study rather interesting: Rhizobacteria - Mediated Growth Promotion of Tomato Leads to Protection Against Cucumber Mosaic Virus And I think the key is to inoculate seedlings early in their growth stage... Willing to try it next year.

As for this year, will see I guess?

Regards,
D

[lee]

Here's something I created a couple of years ago the first time I
saw CMV.

tomatopalooza.org/CMV08.htm

I think the key to CMV is controlling the vectors.

And here's a link to photos of the insect vectors of CMV:

www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/text18/plantvectors.html


As for 2-4D damage, I was able to wash it out of my pots last year,
and the plants produced just fine after that. I suspect, in ground
would be a lot more difficult.....


Good luck,

Lee

[duhvinci]

Thanks, Lee!

Indeed appreciate the input! Luck - well, I think plants are pass that time, looked at each of 40 varieties, and seems that every one is infected/affected, and all look much worse today than just 2 days ago...

I did call and left a message with the local cooperative to see where I can send a plant or two for testing... I do however believe that it is CMV, and not herbicide. I live in the country side, fairly deep into the interior. I really don't see anyone around using weed'n feed or a like.

But the weeds are plenty here indeed! I do cut "grass" around the garden twice per week just to keep the area clean. But controlling the weeds and aphids - I'm at loss for the moment.

What I can say, it is rather devastating to see all the plants in such shape, and almost ready to pull them

Regards,
D

[duhvinci]

One more thing I forgot to ask (since I never had to battle this nasty dz)

If I do pull all of the plants, I have about 20 young seedlings at the various stages of growth, usually keep for succession planting. Would it be safe to plant them were the original plants are right now or not (sadly, I somehow feel that is not)...

Regards,
D

[lee]

From my experience and research, CMV will not be in the soil. The problem with the new unaffected
plants is that they could become infected by the insects.

Here's what I noticed....

1. As it got hot, aphids (my primary vector) vanished and the spread stopped.
2. The plants looked bad, but kept producing, so it may not be so bad after all.....

You could also spray your plants to keep the aphids away if they're still around. Or you could
"row cover" them to keep the aphids off until they are gone.

Lee

[duhvinci]

Lee,

Thank you again for your time in input! I do have some news...

Local Cooperative was rather informative and willing to work with lab at Virginia Tech to test the plant free of charge (at least for CMV and 2,4-D) wich is very nice of them. They do require entire plant, so I will dig it up tonight deliver it tomorrow.

As to the aphids - srping has been cool and wet, so indeed we have them, and possibly is a vector for CMV.

So for now, I will repot the new seedlings and wait for results from Virginia Tech, then pull the plug if I have to.

Thank you again!

Regards,
D

[duhvinci]

At last, I know what I'm dealing with - got a call from co-op extension today at work, results are back from Virginia Tech, and it is 2-4,D damage. Absolutely no traces of CMV! Full report is in the mail... A great help from local co-op extension and VT lab is very much appreciated!!!

I have not seen my garden in 2 days, leave for work in the dark, come back when it's dark. Will see tomorrow. Hoping that the some plants may grow out of it, or at least let me have the fruits they have set.

I did ask my farmer friend who I get the composted cow poop, he never used anything of such, never sprays anything and just added same poop to his garden, about the same time I did, and most of his seedlings were from me as well. Lush and beautiful!

So my guess, it would be coming from the hey/straw bales I bought from a meadows farm, or a drift from nearby horse pasture... Just hope it's not an extensive damage to the soil, and I have little to no issues next year... Will see.

Lee - thank you very much for your input!

Regards,
D

[jcm05]

Nice to get a definitive answer D.

[lee]

That's great they were able to give a definitive cause of the problem.
My guess (and hope) is that you won't have any long term issues from it. I'm reusing all the
pots that had the affected plants in them last year. And while I'm not reusing the soil, I will
be able to see if residue remains on the containers themselves.

I also suspect that your efforts to get the problem identified will help to extension folks better
assist other people with the similar problem.

Thanks for keeping us update and let us know how the season goes!

Lee

[duhvinci]

Thank you, Lee!

While it is unpleasant experience indeed, there is something to learn from it... I did remove quite few plants since, mostly hearts. Almost no recognizable leafs on any branches...

I do have few spare plants to try back in the same place (Kosovo mostly) to see how well or not well they will adapt to this introduced chemical nasty. Only the time will tell.

On the positive note, I now have more space to plant more onions, lettuce and squash, with room to spare for succession planting of cukes (which we always plant many, mostly for pickling to last through the fall/winter/spring)

Co-op folks were very interested in the results as well, and I indeed appreciate their help, and meeting people who enjoy gardening as much as I'm. I do "owe" them some seedlings next year

Regards,
D