The new leaves on my chilli and capsicum plants are coming small, crinkled and slightly cupped, the spacing between leaves is short, and growth has stalled. Older leaves are fine. Which micronutrient deficiency causes small crinkled new leaves with short internodes?
3 Answers
Small, crinkled, cupped new leaves with short spacing between leaves and stalled growth in chilli and capsicum most likely points to zinc deficiency, because zinc controls the hormone for stem and leaf expansion, so a shortage gives small distorted new leaves and crowded short internodes. Some crinkling and cupping of new growth can also signal boron shortage, which additionally causes brittle, corky and dead growing points, so the two are worth separating. Because both are immobile and hit new growth, and because crinkled cupped young leaves can also be caused by leaf-curl viruses spread by whitefly or thrips, by mite damage, or by herbicide drift, please do not assume a deficiency from the leaf look alone. Check for tiny pests under the leaves and confirm with a soil or tissue test before treating. If zinc is confirmed, a foliar zinc sulphate spray around 0.5 percent with a little lime, repeated as advised, plus soil zinc at sowing per your card, is the usual correction. If boron is confirmed, a small carefully measured borax application or low-concentration spray is used. Match doses to your soil test and local KVK advice and do not over-apply, boron especially.
Mirchi mein naye patte mude aur chhote ho to pehle neeche dekho, leaf curl virus bhi aisa karta hai whitefly se. Pehle wo check karo phir zinc.
Zinc sulphate spray se hamari mirchi sudhri thi, par humne pehle test karwaya tha tab pata chala zinc ki kami hai.