What's wrong? Well my entire crop of broad beans are displaying curled leaves. (Please forget/forgive the weeds, it's a consequence of using sheep manure!)
At first I thought the rolled leaves a result of a little frost bite, but then today I took a closer look. Here is a close up - the underside of the leaves seem to have a texture to them.
I cannot see any insect pest at all.
Anyone know what the story is here? Are my broad beans bung? Do I need to destroy them? Or will they produce? Should I plough them in as a green manure?
How are your broad beans? Are they bung or just fine?
It's a virus - bean leaf curl. Aphids are the vector, then it can be in the seed. Chances are you won't get much off them - I would remove and destroy (feed to stock). Some varieties are more resistant apparently.
ReplyDeleteThanks AP! They will go to the chooks!
DeleteI've had this too and I have been looking at various posts. There are no bugs that I can see on mine either. I suspect a virus as well but have now had the same problem on three different crops from three different seed vendors in three separate areas of the garden, we haven't used herbicide near them. I know it's possible the virus is present in the soil but I also read about how in the UK gardeners had problems with manure contaminated with aminopyralid http://www.manurematters.co.uk/gardening.htm#my_plants_affected.
ReplyDeleteIf it's contaminated manure at least it will break down eventually. We bought bulk manure for the first time as we are undertaking major garden work and this is the first time I've encountered this problem. I'm taking precautions against it being a virus but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a non-persistent herbicide residue in the soil associated with manure instead.
Well finally I have found a post which accurately describes the same problem which I have! Virus suspected, no visible bugs;AND a recent dose of enriched potentially contaminated manure!
ReplyDeleteThank you all, I finally have an answer to my problem.
ReplyDeleteI also had broad bean leaf curl after using commercial bulk manure/compost blend. I've read that the persistant broad-leaf herbicide aminopyralid can cause this problem in plants like broad beans and tomatoes, and it can last in the soil for several years. But there's plenty of aphids about too - so I'm not sure of the cause.
ReplyDeleteExactly the same problem! And mine have just gone to flower and they have TONS of flowers! Can see some small black ants crawling on the stems...but...anything I can do? shall I cut the curled leaves? In the meanwhile, I try buying some ant`s powder, damned things are on my roses too!
ReplyDeleteYou have black fly gisella
ReplyDeletePinch out tips and spray with soapy water or aphid killer. I too have curly leaves but no bugs and no manure
I think it's been the weather one way or another. Will wait to see if I get a crop!
Having had a good look around the 'net, I am thinking it's more like this: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/plant-diseases/grains-pulses-and-cereals/temperate-pulse-viruses-bean-leafroll-virus-blrv
ReplyDeleteIt's something I have seen happening in the last few years. They say it's not transmitted by seed, but I wonder... it seems to be becoming more commonplace each winter.
try a search for this "Pyralid weedkillers in compost"
ReplyDeleteNice post thhanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem with broad beans growing in an organic hydroponic system. The system water is reverse osmosis purified before addition. I initially suspected a nutrient deficiency but additions of kelp extract and fish hydrolysate failed to fix the issue. Other plants in the same system are thriving. I tend to think the virus hypothesis most likely. I'm going to try some new seed and see if I can eliminate the problem.
ReplyDelete