Ailing grapefruit (forum)

polly starts with ...
Can anyone help me with my poor ruby grapefruit? I planted it about 9 months ago - with sheep manure and slow release eco fertilizer. It repeatedly develops leaves like these, grows new ones that look healthier, then they turn like this and they drop off.

I thought it may have been potasssium deficiency but NPK x 2 applications now has made no differences.

I'm grateful for any assitance,

Thanks, Polly
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 8th February 2011 1:17am

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About the Author polly1
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Brendan says...
Hi polly, are they old leaves or new leaves?
Citrus like organic fertilizers better than inorganic.(IMO)

Time: 8th February 2011 7:49am

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polly says...
Hi Brendan, both are relatively new - the smallest new ones are still all green, but they then turn like this.

Time: 8th February 2011 11:25am

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amanda says...
That looks weird polly...you haven't used any herbicides (eg Zero) or such around it have you?

Does it develop suddenly on the leaves like that? Does the yellow part stay like that or does it then go brown and "fall out" or the whole leaf just drop off?


Time: 9th February 2011 10:33am

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About the Author amanda19
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polly says...
Hi Amanda,
No, no Zero etc - I did use some ant granules a couple of metres away, but the lime and lemonade which are a bit closer to the ant area are doing fine.

It was planted with sheep manure, and also gets seasol and bokashi 'juice' about every 4 weeks as well (as do all my plants on that side).

The new leaves look like they're going to be fine - then they develop the yellow areas, which slowly increase until the whole leaf is pretty pale with large yellow areas and drops off. It's happened repeatedly since I planted it.

All suggestions gratefully welcomed!

Time: 9th February 2011 11:15pm

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Brendan says...
Hi polly, I sent your photo to the guru up here, and here's his reply:

"I have no idea but it appears to be a toxicity problem. I would drench the soil under the tree with Liquid Gypsum or Clay Breaker.

Remember nothing in the bottom of the hole when planting trees. Slow release fertilizer will release all fertilizer when temperature goes above 30 degrees this could be the problem. Gypsum will displace the toxins."

Hope that helps.



Time: 10th February 2011 8:26am

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kert says...
Some virus diseases cause defects in chlorophyl synthesis. This could be it. There is no treatment.

Time: 10th February 2011 9:05am

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amanda says...
Polly (interesting problem!) where did u get the sheep manure from?
Have you used it on the other citrus trees? How fresh was it?

I am thinking a toxicity problem too Brendan :) as the leaves showing vein clearing and it's spreading from the middle of the leaf outwards..?
(but viral and/or chimeara also - but it doesn't "look" right for them somehow..)

Time: 10th February 2011 10:20am

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polly says...
Thanks everyone, for your suggestions so far! I have a day off tomorrow, so will take a photo of the whole tree (usually dark when I get home).

Amanda, the sheep manure was from City Farmers in Wembley, and looked well old.

Kert, if viral, would it not affect the other citrus close by?

Thanks,

Polly.

Time: 10th February 2011 11:42pm

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Original Post was last edited: 10th February 2011 11:43pm

About the Author polly1
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amanda says...
Hi Polly - it would be really interesting to send a couple of your leaves (seal in a snap lock bag) to the Pest and Disease information Service.

It's free (part of Dept of Ag)
3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth 6151
or email info@agric.wa.gov.au

That manure should be ok by the sounds. Sometimes manures are treated for flies etc.

Let us know if P&D can give u an answer? I am curious now! :)

Time: 11th February 2011 9:58am

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polly says...
Thanks, Amanda, I'll do that, and let you know what they say!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 11th February 2011 1:16pm

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amanda says...
Ah Polly - that's a different pic - didn't know it's in a pot - it looks more like sunburn now....Maybe try moving to a spot where it gets less hot afternoon sun and see if things improve.

(ps - does that black brick wall radiate much heat in the summer?)

Time: 11th February 2011 4:00pm

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About the Author amanda19
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polly says...
Hi Amanda - that's not a pot - it's a tree guard thing that just stops the mulch and water from running away!

The wall is east facing - you know what it's like here - EVERYTHING gets really hot - but as the adjacent lime and lemonade have really thrived there, I didn't think it would be the problem. I think there is a little bit of sunburn too, but I didn't think the central yellowing would be down to that - what do you think?

Time: 11th February 2011 8:02pm

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amanda says...
Hi Polly - just my thoughts and I could well be wrong - but: looking at the whole tree it really doesn't look like a "systemic problem" - you have many decent green leaves there.

That's a good sign. East facing ok - maybe it just needs another season to get established and "take off"...it's another good sign that your other citrus have thrived there.

If it were a virus - the leaves would not be so "regular" looking - there is almost always "blocky" chlorosis and some leaf crinkling and distortion involved. I have yet to see a citrus tree with a systemic viral infection - but maybe others have seen it..?

Genetic chlorosis is on all of the leaves and right from the beginning - on the baby leaves too. You would have noticed something "odd" about the tree when you first purchased it.

Apart from sun-bleaching - the only other pattern it fits (IMHO) is a toxcicity - from herbicides or such - but it should be present on most of the leaves - I am not seeing that on your last pic.

...Or - wetting the leaves when watering - and then the leaves can get burnt quite easily on a really hot day...the water acts like a magnifying glass for the suns rays...

One option is to get some spray on "drought shield" or some light shade cloth - but to be honest - I would just let it go until next summer - it will have to toughen up sometime soon..? Keep it well watered.

It's been a really hot summer :( I give my citrus at least 56L - once or even twice a week in summer...and they are 4yrs, loaded with fruit, very bushy - but only around 1.5m tall..?

Your average watering can is 8 or 9L.






Time: 12th February 2011 2:28am

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Brendan says...
Hi polly,
I agree with amanda, looks like sunburnt leaves.

For citrus, and any other tree, the mulch should not be touching the tree trunk, all you should see inside those rings, is soil. I then heap the mulch up to the top of the ring, but on the outside only. Keeps the tree roots cool. Just a thought.

Some Seasol won't hurt it either. Seasol contains potash, which will toughen up the tree.

Time: 12th February 2011 9:20am

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polly says...
Thanks Brendan - it's seasol day today, so that's good - and I'll move the mulch away as you suggest.

Thanks for all your tips and thoughts Amanda - I might try and rig up a bit of shade for the next month or so (and please could the weather cool down a bit then!).

Will let you know how it goes, thanks again.

Time: 12th February 2011 12:27pm

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