From: VCE-ANR Agriculture and Natural Resources Discussion List [VCE-ANR@listserv.vt.edu] On Behalf Of Chuck Johnson [spcdis@vt.edu]
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2013 2:17 PM
To: VCE-ANR@LISTSERV.VT.EDU
Subject: Fwd: Boron Toxicity
ANR Agents, Specialists, and anyone interested in Strawberry:
About 2 weeks ago I sent you all a note summarizing a serious virus situation affecting strawberry producers in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. In my summary, I mentioned that we need to be careful about assuming that strawberry plants with symptoms that “look just like” virus infection, actually are virus-infected. The email below sent-out be a colleague in Georgia presents an excellent example of this situation, which is why I’m distributing it to you.
Symptoms of boron toxicity can, in large part, resemble those of Strawberry Mild Yellow Edge Virus (SMYEV). The only way to distinguish the 2 potential causes of the problem are to assay for presence of the virus and the nutritional status of the plant and soil. This’s what Phil and our colleagues at UGA did, and found the marginal necrosis to be due to Boron toxicity, rather than virus. This is important because while growers can’t cure a virus problem, they can take steps to mitigate Boron toxicity.
Just an “example” to the wise. Take care all!
Chuck Johnson
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Phillip M Brannen <pbrannen@uga.edu<mailto:pbrannen@uga.edu>>
Date: Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 10:22 AM
Subject: Boron Toxicity
To: “georgiastrawberrypathology@googlegroups.com<mailto:georgiastrawberrypathology@googlegroups.com>” <georgiastrawberrypathology@googlegroups.com<mailto:georgiastrawberrypathology@googlegroups.com>>
Cc: “Chuck Johnson (spcdis@vt.edu<mailto:spcdis@vt.edu>)” <spcdis@vt.edu<mailto:spcdis@vt.edu>>
The attached photo (submitted by James Jacobs last week) shows boron toxicity; in this case, the producer was concerned that this was an extreme case of the strawberry mild yellow edge virus, but no virus was detected through use of ELISA. Tissue samples indicated extremely high levels of boron. Just as with the potential boron deficiencies we discussed over the last two days, producers should use soil and tissue samples (prescriptive methods) for determination of the nutrient needs of the plant. Again, boron levels on this sample were in excess, and the symptoms are consistent for those of boron toxicity in strawberry.
To date, no strawberry viruses have been confirmed in Georgia. I guess that would indicate that we are either missing these viruses when present, or our sources of transplants were not those of concern. I hope the latter is the case. We may have dodged a bullet.
—
Charles S. Johnson
Professor, and
Extension Plant Pathologist
Ph: (434) 292-5331 x226
Fax: (434) 292-5623
Mobile: (434) 292-7090
Email: spcdis@vt.edu<mailto:spcdis@vt.edu>