Citurs Tree, sick leaves, need help! Options

[sherry]

My orange tree leaves are sick. I searched on internet. I learned there is something called "leafminer". But the picture posted on the internet isn't really like what I have. So I am not very sure. Can anybody help me identify what's the problem with my tree?

Thanks!

Sherry

Attached File(s)

 sick_orange_tree_leave.jpg ( 48.75K ) Number of downloads: 13

 

[sherry]

BTW, the light make the leaves look white color, which is mis-conception. The leaves are still green, or I should say yellowish green, not white color. It is the curly shape looks abnormal.

Sherry
[/quote]

[turtleman]

Its always a little bit hard to tell for sure from a photo.. but give me a few more clues here..

What part of the country is your tree in?
Whats been the temps over the last few days and or weeks
Is it the whole plant or just one limb?
Whats the irrigation been?
Have you added any fertilizers, if so what
Whats the rootstock its on and what type of Citrus is it?

[sherry]

Thanks for asking!

I live in Chandler, AZ.
The temperature is close to where you live, so you know how it has been.
Not every limbs, and not all limbs. About 60-70% limbs. The limbs of the lowest part of the crown seem to be fine.
The tree is on sprinkler system. 5-10 min everyday.
I haven't add any fertilizer recently. The last time was last spring.
I don't know what kind of rootstock its on. The label only says it is a "daisy mandarin".

Extra info might be helpful. When I bought it, which was about Apr 2007, it was a small tree in a 5 gallon bucket. By then, some of it's leaves shown such kind of curly symptom already. The seller said it is ok, when it grow up, it will be fine. It was the only mandarin left by then, so I just bought it. Last year, the problem has never been away, although it didn't affect the production of the fruit. It produced very good quantity and quality fruits. However, recently, another orange tree on the side of this sick tree now seem to show some sign of sick leaves as well. That is why I start to concern about it and want to cure it.
However, the symptom of this tree seems to be a little different from the other tree. The leaves of this tree is very curly. You can see it has kind of 'bubble" on the down side of the leaves. The leaves of the other tree have leaves that i can see "white tunnel" on the leaves, a little bit curly, but not as much as this one.

Not sure helpful or not, I have another picture of this tree. I have circled a few places that has the kind of "bubble look" I talked about.

Thank you very much! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Its always a little bit hard to tell for sure from a photo.. but give me a few more clues here..

What part of the country is your tree in?
Whats been the temps over the last few days and or weeks
Is it the whole plant or just one limb?
Whats the irrigation been?
Have you added any fertilizers, if so what
Whats the rootstock its on and what type of Citrus is it?

Attached File(s)

 bubble_look_leaves.jpg ( 88.73K ) Number of downloads: 8

 

[turtleman]

There might be a few things going on at one time here I'm thinking;
First, cut the watering Way Back.. Citrus here in the valley only need watering in the winter once every 20 days or so, then flood the tree, and allow it to dry out.. they don't like wet feet,, this "might" be part of the yellowing problem. In the summer Flood your tree once every 8 to 10 days.
Second.. Our temperatures here run 80 in the day and 40 at night, that's a Wide swing for any plant to adjust to in every 12 hour time frame. Even our trees at the nursery here have some yellowing to them because of this (the bloods more so than some of the others), the tree is getting confused (so to speak) as to if its in a spring grow mode or a winter slow down mode, it's called "Mesophyll Collapse".

Now there might be a few other reasons for your problem but instead of over reacting, let take one step at a time and follow the old process of elimination method. This way we can "dial in" whats going on.

A couple other questions;
When you bought the tree was there any paint marks at or just above the union where the graft was made?
If so was there a purple paint mark or another color, (usually a small strip around the trunk).
Do you have any ants running around the trunk or limbs of the tree? or have you noticed any aphids under the leafs on new growth?

[Laaz]

It does sound like citrus leaf miner. They feed on the new growth and leave a design that looks almost like spider webbing inside the underside of the leaf. If it is leaf miner they are just about impossible to get rid of. Check the undersides of the new growth leaves. You will see tunneling going back and forth with a tiny worm at the end of the trail. When they start to mature they fold the edge of the leaf over and emerge as a tiny moth.

Leaf miner

Leaf miner

[sherry]

Thanks for sharing. I think you are right. Mine doesn't look like what your picture is showing.

Sherry

It does sound like citrus leaf miner. They feed on the new growth and leave a design that looks almost like spider webbing inside the underside of the leaf. If it is leaf miner they are just about impossible to get rid of. Check the undersides of the new growth leaves. You will see tunneling going back and forth with a tiny worm at the end of the trail. When they start to mature they fold the edge of the leaf over and emerge as a tiny moth.

Leaf miner

Leaf miner

[sherry]

I don't remember if it had a paint mark or not. I don't see any ants or aphids.

I will do what you recommend here. Let's see what happens.

Thanks for sharing.

Sherry

There might be a few things going on at one time here I'm thinking;
First, cut the watering Way Back.. Citrus here in the valley only need watering in the winter once every 20 days or so, then flood the tree, and allow it to dry out.. they don't like wet feet,, this "might" be part of the yellowing problem. In the summer Flood your tree once every 8 to 10 days.
Second.. Our temperatures here run 80 in the day and 40 at night, that's a Wide swing for any plant to adjust to in every 12 hour time frame. Even our trees at the nursery here have some yellowing to them because of this (the bloods more so than some of the others), the tree is getting confused (so to speak) as to if its in a spring grow mode or a winter slow down mode, it's called "Mesophyll Collapse".

Now there might be a few other reasons for your problem but instead of over reacting, let take one step at a time and follow the old process of elimination method. This way we can "dial in" whats going on.

A couple other questions;
When you bought the tree was there any paint marks at or just above the union where the graft was made?
If so was there a purple paint mark or another color, (usually a small strip around the trunk).
Do you have any ants running around the trunk or limbs of the tree? or have you noticed any aphids under the leafs on new growth?

[turtleman]

OK.. Leaf Miners will cause a yellowing effect but after the damage has been done. both the images Laaz linked to are excellent images of what leaf Miners do/are, but if you noticed in those images the other leafs are still green (so far anyways). Seven out of ten times, in the valley leaf yellowing is due to irrigation issues, or fertilization issues but that's never a reason not to investigate what else the problem might be.
"If" you do notice Leaf Minors just post back and let us know, in the past I've used Dimethoate to rid myself of problems. There's other methods to maintenance also, so stay in touch.

By the way

Welcome to the forum, I'm glad to have you here

[sherry]

Thanks. I am glad to be here as well.

OK.. Leaf Miners will cause a yellowing effect but after the damage has been done. both the images Laaz linked to are excellent images of what leaf Miners do/are, but if you noticed in those images the other leafs are still green (so far anyways). Seven out of ten times, in the valley leaf yellowing is due to irrigation issues, or fertilization issues but that's never a reason not to investigate what else the problem might be.
"If" you do notice Leaf Minors just post back and let us know, in the past I've used Dimethoate to rid myself of problems. There's other methods to maintenance also, so stay in touch.

By the way

Welcome to the forum, I'm glad to have you here