Author Topic: Strange pawpaw leaf issue  (Read 2077 times)

Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« on: May 26, 2020, 08:05:49 PM »
Just one of my nearly 40 pawpaw trees I found has developed some odd blackening of leaves in the last week.
It’s only the newest leaves affected. There’s nothing unique about the growing conditions of this tree. It’s right in the middle of all the other trees - same soil, water, sun, etc.

The only theory I have is root damage - about a week ago (timing lines up) I was planting yet another pawpaw (it’s a sickness) about 6 feet away. In digging the hole I dug up about a foot long section of what looked like a pawpaw root, no more than 2mm in diameter. What you might see in the pot of a seedling tree.
It did not have a pungent smell like I’ve noticed when handling pawpaw roots in the past.

Any ideas?



SeaWalnut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1397
    • Romania zone 6
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2020, 08:12:08 PM »
Root damage .Its same as overwatering stress.
The doesnt have enough oxigen because of root damage or because of overwatering( the roots dont have enough oxigen).
I have a cherimoya that i think il loose her because of overwatering and sprouted similar leaves.
Pawpaw on the otther hand its more resistant than cherimoya probably ,because they like to grow in wet soil near rivers.
I think it will recover.

Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2020, 01:10:52 PM »
I’d love to have an easy answer but that root was so small and didn’t have the pawpaw pungency.

I’m starting to think it looks like water logging, as you mentioned SeaWalnut. Being the younger leaves I think this matches up.
The problem with this theory is that it’s received no more water than any other tree.
But maybe it’s in a strange spot where water accumulates due to underlying bedrock formation etc. it is NOT in a low spot and water does not puddle.

NateTheGreat

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 502
    • SF Bay Area, 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2020, 03:38:09 PM »
I noticed a bit of this on May 12 this year, none since. I had more of an issue with it last year. I didn't tie a cause to it, but looking at my weather history we had a good amount of rain the night of May 11, the first since April 6. That supports it being caused by overwatering.



Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2020, 03:42:25 PM »
I noticed a bit of this on May 12 this year, none since. I had more of an issue with it last year. I didn't tie a cause to it, but looking at my weather history we had a good amount of rain the night of May 11, the first since April 6. That supports it being caused by overwatering.



interesting - yeah we have just had nothing but rain for a week or more. still raining today. it's nuts. also abnormally cool temps for this time of the year. My maypop vines are about a month behind normal schedule.

Still just weird that it's only one tree but oh well. Just annoying, i'm sure it's not lethal.

NateTheGreat

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 502
    • SF Bay Area, 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2020, 04:46:51 PM »
I'm jealous. I'm having to water my potted plants 2-3 times a day. It's 97 and climbing, with 25% humidity. Did that mulberry bounce back?

Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2020, 05:02:17 PM »
yeah, for my personal comfort the coolness is nice!

The mulberry is just sitting there still! arg. so weird. Thanks for asking. I will probably try grafting it anyway. I don't know what else to do.
I have thought of trying an anti-fungal drench using strong Daconil solution (what I have around) but that would be very experimental.

Triloba Tracker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1343
  • Psalms 104:14
    • USA, Middle Tennessee, Zone 7a
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2020, 11:24:48 AM »
update -
I made a video of this on my youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/CutmasterCoolV

The tree has really taken a nosedive and is now dropping leaves. I'm bracing for a total loss.

Luisport

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3210
  • New in tropical fruit growing!
    • Fatima, Portugal
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2020, 02:00:04 PM »
update -
I made a video of this on my youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/CutmasterCoolV

The tree has really taken a nosedive and is now dropping leaves. I'm bracing for a total loss.
I'm sorry my friend...  :-\

Francis_Eric

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 616
    • 40 miles west of Chicago Aurora IL ZONE 5
    • View Profile
    • https://myspace.com/undisclosedforthetime/
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2020, 03:03:29 AM »
What is the soil like any ways

Me  clayish ( no sand)
I think I might try to take a pick ax, and pore sand/gravel down ,
 and pick ax it into the soil by my tree.

I've thought that since I got the tree , but seen them in other thick soils
 but reading about the melting of lake Michigan glacier ,
 and my soil type (and surrounding )
in a new (native) plant book I got is motivating me more into it.
Kankakee IL. soil is better for them it mentions.)

Some times I wonder if the seed or genetics of the root stock could be affecting certain trees differently , but not sure of the seed source from your tree
Like what if the parents grew in extremely airy soil, but now they are in moderately airy soil.

I cannot say for a older tree, but I saw saplings extremely root rotten
the root bark was coming off placed in extreme shade for months , and they started re growing (I mean it was amazing They did die of neglect of me tough over winter.)



Francis_Eric

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 616
    • 40 miles west of Chicago Aurora IL ZONE 5
    • View Profile
    • https://myspace.com/undisclosedforthetime/
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2020, 03:10:24 AM »
Oh the roots where the size of a shoe lace so they were small.

If you have no hope
 I do not see making it extremely shady to see if any improvement happens
 in a couple of weeks could hurt
mine was months, but it was so tiny.

If you end up doing it I'd be interested in hearing your results.

Guanabanus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3036
  • SE Palm Beach County, East of I-95, Elevation 18'
    • USA, Florida, Boynton Beach, 33435, Zone 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Strange pawpaw leaf issue
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2020, 02:28:32 PM »
The root-damage-from-heavy-rain theory may be right.

When I magnified the first picture, I thought I could see, blurry, a Potato Leaf-Hopper;  even small numbers of them can cause leaf cupping and marginal firing.

Fertilizing with urea can sometimes cause leaf-tip burns.
Har