The Tropical Fruit Forum

Check out psyllid Trioza erytreae damage pics

That's totally it. The examples I have seen looks exactly like this!

This also explains why the ant's are all over it:
"All phloem-feeding, honeydew-producing insect pests have the potential to be tended by ants. The ants feed on the honeydew excreted by the pest and protect the pest from natural enemies. This protection can disrupt biological control programs."

Thank you so much - I'll definitely try out your recommendations.

Regards
Mike

I have a very sick lemon-tree and would greatly appreciate some advice on how to deal with it.

The tree is a chance-seedling and is about 5 years old - it is growing outdoors in a pot in my garden in Nairobi, Kenya. I should note that I am a total amateur when it comes to citrus growing.

I believe there are several problems affecting the tree, but it could just be different symptoms from one problem, in any case this is what I have observed.

• Most leaf have dropped from the tree.
• Many remaining leafs are infected
• New leafs tend to curl up
• Main stem of the tree has a major crack

Let me give some detail on each observation:

Leaf drop
So most of the leafs from the tree have dropped - many of them became yellow before dropping
I have purchased some citrus fertilizer (4-1-3) and have applied this twice a week for the last month. The label on the fertilizer states that it contains "high level of iron" which safeguards against yellow-leafs and dropping leafs

Based on that description I am guessing the tree had a major iron-deficiency and I hope the fertilizer will help with this over time.

The image below shows how the crown of the tree looks



Infected leafs
This is actually what I consider the main problem / challenge.
Most of the remaining leafs have been infected, probably by some insect - my guess is that it is black ants which from time to time crawl all over the tree.

The leafs them self look as if they are growing blisters, and the underside of them have some distinct black spots right below the "blisters"

Typical leaf on the top side:


Underside of the same leaf:


My immediate reaction is that I want to cut the infected leafs and burn them - however since the tree has so few leafs remaining I am wondering if there are any alternative ?


New leaf curl up
Whenever the tree tries to put new leafs they often get stuck in a "curled up position" and it is as if they are curling into each other never really managing to unfold and grow properly.

I am wondering if this is because they are getting infected by the same insects (ants) right from the start or if this is something completely different

Curled bunch of leafs:



Cracked stem
The main stem itself seems to have a major crack in it, I am wondering if this is something I have caused i.e. by watering incorrectly or if it's just "normal" or some external factor causing this.




Any advice or insight would be most welcome..
Mike..