Cucumber distortion
 

Has anyone seen anything like this, NOT from hormone weedkiller.
Two out of three plants developed this way, but side shoots seem to
be normal. I have used no weedkiller near them, and suspect something
weather-related.

This isn't the first time I have seen this on cucurbits, and it seems
to be highly correlated with the source of the seed. I suspect a virus
in the parent plant, as it has happened to saved seed as well, but why
have they then seemed to recover.

http://imgur.com/kTRrnx3.jpg
http://imgur.com/OsYRN8s.jpg



Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Cucumber distortion
 

On 23/06/2018 18:28, Nick Maclaren wrote:
Has anyone seen anything like this, NOT from hormone weedkiller.
Two out of three plants developed this way, but side shoots seem to
be normal. I have used no weedkiller near them, and suspect something
weather-related.

This isn't the first time I have seen this on cucurbits, and it seems
to be highly correlated with the source of the seed. I suspect a virus
in the parent plant, as it has happened to saved seed as well, but why
have they then seemed to recover.

http://imgur.com/kTRrnx3.jpg
http://imgur.com/OsYRN8s.jpg



Regards,
Nick Maclaren.


I seem to remember the odd plant like that when I was market gardening
many years ago, before all the hormone weedkillers.
We always said Genetic.

Cucumber distortion
 

On 23/06/18 18:28, Nick Maclaren wrote:
Has anyone seen anything like this, NOT from hormone weedkiller.
Two out of three plants developed this way, but side shoots seem to
be normal. I have used no weedkiller near them, and suspect something
weather-related.

This isn't the first time I have seen this on cucurbits, and it seems
to be highly correlated with the source of the seed. I suspect a virus
in the parent plant, as it has happened to saved seed as well, but why
have they then seemed to recover.

http://imgur.com/kTRrnx3.jpg
http://imgur.com/OsYRN8s.jpg

Isn't this just fasciation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciation)?
I've only seen it on cacti and ferns (and of course, Celosia "cristata"
- more accurately Celosia argentea var. cristata). I see no reason why
it shouldn't occur on cucurbits, as the Wiki article shows it on several
different plants. In fact, ref 8 in the Wiki article (Swift, Curtis E.
(April 12, 1999). "Fasciation: Fascinating distortions of the plant
world".) ends with a reference list, one ref of which is "Gabillard, D.
& Pitrat, M. 1988. A fasciated mutant in Cucumis melo. Rpt. Cucurbit
Genet. Coop. 11:37-38.", so fasciation in cucurbits is not unknown.

Can viruses to be transmitted through seed? I thought that was how
breeders got away from strains of plants with viral problems, BICBW.

--

Jeff

Cucumber distortion
 

On 23/06/2018 18:28, Nick Maclaren wrote:
Has anyone seen anything like this, NOT from hormone weedkiller.
Two out of three plants developed this way, but side shoots seem to
be normal. I have used no weedkiller near them, and suspect something
weather-related.

This isn't the first time I have seen this on cucurbits, and it seems
to be highly correlated with the source of the seed. I suspect a virus
in the parent plant, as it has happened to saved seed as well, but why
have they then seemed to recover.

http://imgur.com/kTRrnx3.jpg
http://imgur.com/OsYRN8s.jpg

Looks like fasciation where the growing point becomes linear.

Might be due to an air frost or pest damage or genetics.

Coleus from seed used to sometimes do this too.
Often enough to be noticeable.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Cucumber distortion
 

In article ,
Jeff Layman wrote:

This isn't the first time I have seen this on cucurbits, and it seems
to be highly correlated with the source of the seed. I suspect a virus
in the parent plant, as it has happened to saved seed as well, but why
have they then seemed to recover.

http://imgur.com/kTRrnx3.jpg
http://imgur.com/OsYRN8s.jpg

Isn't this just fasciation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciation)?

Yes. But that's what it's called, not what causes it!

Can viruses to be transmitted through seed? I thought that was how
breeders got away from strains of plants with viral problems, BICBW.

Yes. Some viruses do not pass through the seed, but many do, and
the most reliable way of removing viruses is micropropagation from
the apical meristem. It's regrettable that recent governments have
favoured mammalian biology so much over plant biology, because that
mechanism might cast light on defences against viruses and cancers.
I suspect that a similar mechanism has caused the secondary shoots
on my plants to develop normally.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I am still lost to know what
caused it, but am interested to hear how widespread it seems to be.
It may well remain 'just one of those things'.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.