1
point
Mottled yellow leaves on sunflower

Sunflower   

I have a question about my sunflower plant. The leaves have developed mottled yellow patches and I can't figure out what is causing it. All the leaves on the plant are affected and the discoloration goes right through the leaf to the bottom side. I can't find any insects on the plant and it is doing real well otherwise, the flowers have just opened up. I will try and attach some photos. Does anybody know what this is?


Posted by: Em (1 point) Em
Posted: July 17, 2013




Answers

1
point
This looks like it could be a nitrogen deficiency. If the plants are large and flowering, some of the lower leaves in particular may start senescence (a sort of programmed leaf death and removal process), which often starts with yellowing. You could try giving the plants a little bit more fertilizer or compost, but my guess is that this slight deficiency will not affect the overall flowering/seed filling of your plants. It does not look like a virus because it is very slight and does not seem to have any other symptoms (stunting, leaf distortion) that are typically associated with acute viruses of crops.


Posted by: Kerry Mauck (58 points) Kerry Mauck
Posted: July 22, 2013




1
point
I have seen symptoms like these many times on sunflower and they are not due to a disease. Oftentimes one can find aphids or spider mites on the underside of the affected leaves, but your pictures don't show that, at least not obviously. If it is just on the older leaves, it may be part of the slow decline or senescence that you see in hot weather.


Posted by: Charlie B. (5 points) Charlie B.
Posted: July 22, 2013




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