Author Topic: Soursop SOS  (Read 1555 times)

tropical-farmer

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Soursop SOS
« on: September 10, 2018, 03:15:41 PM »
Hi,
i have been reading this forum for a long time but never posted. Really appreciate the knowledge i gained from you guys, its very helpful in maintaining our fruit tree garden. We have a meditation garden focused on edibles and fruit trees in North Miami Beach, FL.

I just noticed leaves on my soursop with these little gall-type growths and many leaves with discoloration as well (pics attached). The new leaves do look green with no discoloration but have these small nodules along the central vein. We were thinking either a gall-forming insect or fungus, but don't know for sure. Please let me know what it is suffering from and how to help the tree. Thanks in advance!








Satya

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2018, 04:24:06 PM »
My 2 "miami" soursops have the same issue. In my case, it's benign.

It does look like it's lacking in nutrition. Leaves are chlorotic.
Jeff  :-)

Coach62

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2018, 05:34:23 PM »
My 2 "miami" soursops have the same issue. In my case, it's benign.

It does look like it's lacking in nutrition. Leaves are chlorotic.

Jeff, if you expand those photos, it looks like some sort of aphid-like critter in the center of that white "cocoon" like crap, whatever it is.  Do you agree?  I have a 4K screen, so maybe it takes the higher resolution to see it??

And it is definitely lacking something nutritionally.  Maybe low iron? 

Can you take a more closeup photo of a few of those things?
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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2018, 07:30:23 PM »
Do they move? Mine are stationary galls.

Probably iron and manganese deficient?

My 2 "miami" soursops have the same issue. In my case, it's benign.

It does look like it's lacking in nutrition. Leaves are chlorotic.

Jeff, if you expand those photos, it looks like some sort of aphid-like critter in the center of that white "cocoon" like crap, whatever it is.  Do you agree?  I have a 4K screen, so maybe it takes the higher resolution to see it??

And it is definitely lacking something nutritionally.  Maybe low iron? 

Can you take a more closeup photo of a few of those things?
Jeff  :-)

tropical-farmer

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2018, 07:31:18 PM »
Thank you Jeff and Coach62 . Here are some more pics







Satya

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2018, 10:02:32 PM »
Today's second picture does appear to be a pest.  If only a few leaves are affected now, you could remove those leaves to the city trash, or into a bucket of soapy water. 
Or you could blast them off with a hard stream of water from a hose pistol.  Or you could spray with neem oil in cool, slow-drying conditions.  Or drench or spray with Aza-Sol.

The third picture shows Manganese deficiency and Potassium deficiency, and probably others, including Iron.
Har

Dane

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2018, 10:03:33 PM »
Looks like some sort of aphid. I usually use neem oil on any aphids I find. Kills them within a week.

tropical-farmer

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2018, 10:23:21 PM »
Har and Dane, thank you so much for your suggestions,  i suspected there is problem with micro-nutrient deficiency in our garden since we were on solid coral with almost no soil, all the soil had to be imported and it was quite infertile. We are trying to build it up organically with mulch, manure, mycorrhizae, bacteria etc, but seems like it will take time. Will try neem oil spray and work on these specific deficiencies as you suggested.
Satya

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Re: Soursop SOS
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2018, 11:30:54 PM »
Thank you Jeff and Coach62 . Here are some more pics








Those pics are pretty bad out of focus once you expand them, but it sure has some aphid-like looking little critters in it.  Good luck, if you can get a better photo or two, that could be helpful. 
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