From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Butler,PA(Blueman286@zoominternet.net)

I would like to ask the BP community for help, please. I have placed 3 photos in my photo gallery of yellowing leaves. When I planted this house I planted 2 plants in it. This plant started to show this yellowing within a day or 2 after transplant. The plant right next to it showed not a sign of yellowing and it was only 8 inches away. The genetics of this plant are rare and I really need to help/save it. As the main vine grows, the leaves look fine, but as they age, they yellow. Any ideas on how I can help this plant? Thank you, Chip Brunst

6/20/2012 11:47:28 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

OK what ammendmends have you added to the soil?
What does your nitrogen level look like?
Magnesium Deficieny looks like this...

In the end something is tying up your plants ability to produce the proper amount of Chlorophyl..
Many possible causes..Iron, Nitrogen, Magnesium, PH

6/20/2012 1:28:39 PM

Connecticut

Everyone is keeping me on my toes this year for sure;-)

OK looking at the pictures you have a very distinctive patter to the leaves that honestly does not fit any of the typical nutrient related issues. Reading about the two plants nest to one another and only one showing this is also favoring against the potential for nutrient deficiency as both should have shown symptoms.

Now the fact that the yellowing is starting in the veins and spreading out is a key but how this helps I am not sure at the moment. In short to me it does not look like Fe, Mg, K, or even Mn deficiency.

With the information and pictures provided I am going out on a little side vine here to say what do the roots / rot development look like? I am favoring the possibility of nematode damage which could happen on just one plant even though one was right next to it. There are many different types of nematodes but cyst nematode stick out to me and is of particular problems with soybeans.

Nematode damage in giant pumpkins is probably the least understood “problem” but this is what I am going with at the moment. A tissue test would confirm or rule out nutrients so I suggest you do this but with the information provided I am going with potential nematode damage.

Hope this helps,

-Matt

6/20/2012 4:35:04 PM

West Sunbury, PA (ander@zoominternet.net)

Thank you both. Matt, if it is nematode damage, how would this be corrected?

6/24/2012 10:50:11 AM

West Sunbury, PA (ander@zoominternet.net)

Sorry, reading on my wife's computer. Chip Brunst

6/24/2012 10:51:05 AM

South East

how bout a virus?

6/24/2012 12:30:06 PM

Boscawen, NH

I would agree with Matt that the chlorotic leaves are probably the result of either cyst nematodes or root knot nematodes. Nematicides are the usual treatment but require a license and have little effect if the plant is already infected. There have been a few field studies using "Activonate" with good results in controlling root knot nematodes in pumpkins. There is quite a bit of info out there on the damage (beyond chlorotic leaves) that they do to crops.

6/24/2012 6:54:33 PM

Connecticut

Hi Chip, my first thought would be to try and prove the nematode idea before taking action in this direction. Nematodes are on the large side (compared to other disease causing agents) so if you could take a section of plant material to a diagnostic lab they might be able to see the problem under a microscope. While, they may not be able to identify the species, a yes or no to their merge presence is what is needed.

The Cooks, it does not look viral to me. Yes the pattern is odd and does spread, but more typical of viruses is coloration changes followed by morphological (form or shape) changes in either the leaves and/or the fruit. It was something that I thought about but ended-up ruling it out.

6/25/2012 11:47:53 PM