These leaves are from a Key lime that I was planning to use as rootstock for a couple of grafts. I need to know what is causing this problem first. Has anyone seen this before?





These are older leaves and the newer growth looks fine and healthy.

Andi

My suspicion (but I can't guarantee it) is that the plant got too dry or you used too much fertilizer when these particular leaves were at a susceptible stage in their development. In either case, the leaf would dehydrate, showing these symptoms. Alternatively, if they're in a greenhouse or other enclosed area, a too-high temperature could cause those symptoms.

Malcolm

Sorry for the second post, but it occurs to me -- you said these are Key lime and you want to use them as a rootstock. Be aware of several things in that case:

1. Scions on Key lime roots do not produce particularly high-quality fruit. It's ok, but generally rather bland and dilute.

2. Key lime is the most horrendously susceptible of all potential rootstocks to Tristeza virus disease, so be sure your scions are not infected, or the tree will die quite young. You being outside the commercial citrus producing areas of the world will mean that your trees won't likely catch the disease (spread from other citrus by aphids), but there is the possibility that your scion source is already infected and growing on a tolerant rootstock.

Dr. Manners,
Thanks for the reply.
I use a slow release fertilizer with minimal amounts of trace elements so I add a half strength dose of S.T.E.M. to compensate. I also add a small amount of epsom salt since neither contains it. The trees were inside through out the winter and only brought out a couple weeks ago so it could be from that.

I suppose I will scrap the key lime rootstock idea. I also have a number of P Trifolate growing for that purpose.

Flying Dragon nursery used to have a nice bit with pictures showing various nutrient deficiencies in citrus leaves. Lately though I can't even find their web site much less that section of it. It would be a good reference for a thread like this.

.....Alan.

Here is FlyingDragons deficiency page. I looked at it first before I posted and didn't find the culprit.

http://www.flyingdragoncitrusnursery.com/deficiency/index.htm

Thanks.

For some reason Google refuses to divulge their page.

.....Alan.

The only possible nutrient deficiency that could cause those symptoms would be potassium, and I think that exceedingly unlikely.

Perhaps another possibility is the effect of sudden cold arctic blast. It happened to the Kaffir lime of a friend, and all the leaves fell by spring time but was replaced with nice growth spurts. But the leaves seemed to look the same burning at the edge, but could be a combo problem as well.

Based of your saying you just brought them outside, I would guess sunburn.

Ned