Leaf scorch (also called leaf burn, leaf wilt, and sun scorch) is defined as a browning of plant tissues, including leaf margins and tips, and yellowing or darkening of veins which may lead to eventual
wilting
Wilting is the loss of rigidity of non-woody parts of plants. This occurs when the turgor pressure in non- lignified plant cells falls towards zero, as a result of diminished water in the cells. Wilting also serves to reduce water loss, as it ...
and
abscission
Abscission () is the shedding of various parts of an organism, such as a plant dropping a leaf, fruit, flower, or seed. In zoology, abscission is the intentional shedding of a body part, such as the shedding of a claw, husk, or the autotomy of a ...
of the leaf.
Causes
Leaf scorch can be caused by
soil compaction (agriculture), soil compaction,
transplant shock,
nutrient deficiency,
nutrient excess, drought,
salt toxicity,
herbicide
Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weedkillers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page fo ...
injury,
and disease injury.
Treatment
Affected plants may sometimes recover through watering and fertilization (if the cause is not over-fertilization). Light pruning may also help to reduce the water-pumping load on the roots and xylem.
In the case of leaf scorch through over-fertilization, recovery may take time, requiring a treatment of a slow leaching process through drip irrigation over 24–48 hours.
Prevention
Reversal of symptoms and damage can be enacted through the following cultural practices:
* Pruning sprouts and affected areas
* Avoiding frequent, light waterings which promote unhealthy root systems
* Watering heavily to promote deep root systems
* Avoiding
over-fertilization
Fertilizer burns occur when the use of too much fertilizer, the wrong type of fertilizer, or too little water with a fertilizer causes damage to a plant. Although fertilizer is used to help a plant grow by providing nutrients, too much will result ...
See also
*
Fertilizer
A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...
*
Forest pathology
Forest pathology is the research of both biotic and abiotic maladies affecting the health of a forest ecosystem, primarily fungal pathogens and their insect vectors. It is a subfield of forestry and plant pathology.
Forest pathology is part ...
*
Nitrogen burn
Fertilizer burns occur when the use of too much fertilizer, the wrong type of fertilizer, or too little water with a fertilizer causes damage to a plant. Although fertilizer is used to help a plant grow by providing nutrients, too much will result ...
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite web , title=Bacterial Leaf Scorch , website=]Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. It is also known informally as Shaw's Garden for founder and philanthropist Henry Shaw. Its herbarium, with more than 6.6 million spe ...
, url=http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/bacterial-spots/bacterial-leaf-scorch.aspx , access-date=2021-01-28
[{{cite web, url=http://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-or-w-12.pdf, title=Bacterial Leaf Scorch - Plant Pathology Fact Sheet, first=John, last=Hartman, website=]University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentu ...
Extension
[{{cite web , title=Bacterial Leaf Scorch - Trees , website=]University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...
Extension , url=https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/bacterial-leaf-scorch-trees , access-date=2021-01-28
Physiological plant disorders