Meyer lemon lesions, can you identify - Ask Extension
Improved Meyer Lemon - about half of our lemons have this type of lesion, with some more progressed than others. I started noticing it about two month...
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Meyer lemon lesions, can you identify #782623
Asked February 25, 2022, 1:03 PM EST
Improved Meyer Lemon - about half of our lemons have this type of lesion, with some more progressed than others. I started noticing it about two months ago. Lives in a pot with southern exposure on the west side of our house, with full sun once the sun comes around the south side. First year we have kept it outside full time, with frost cloth and 150 watts of incandescent light during sub freezing temperatures. No noticeable leaf damage. It took me a while to get the correct photo format to upload, let me know if you need a better resolution. Thank you!
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Dear Karen,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension about your Meyer lemon. It is difficult to do a diagnosis from photos, but perhaps with some additional information, I may be able to advise you.
In the meantime, I suggest you remove any affected fruit, leaves, or twigs, wrap them in a sealed bag and dispose of them in the trash (do not compost.) I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension about your Meyer lemon. It is difficult to do a diagnosis from photos, but perhaps with some additional information, I may be able to advise you.
- Is the entire lesion sunken or is a portion raised?
- Did the lesions all develop on the same side of the fruits; ie. were the lesions all on the side of sun exposure?
- Are the leaves and twigs of the plant healthy or do they also have lesions, discoloration, or other abnormalities? If so, please send close-up photos.
- Which months was the plant outdoors?
In the meantime, I suggest you remove any affected fruit, leaves, or twigs, wrap them in a sealed bag and dispose of them in the trash (do not compost.) I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your help, Leanne, and here is some additional information:
From my initial request:
Improved Meyer Lemon - about half of our lemons have this type of lesion, with some more progressed than others. I started noticing it about two months ago. Lives in a pot with southern exposure on the west side of our house, with full sun once the sun comes around the south side. First year we have kept it outside full time, with frost cloth and 150 watts of incandescent light during sub freezing temperatures. No noticeable leaf damage.
In addition:
Twigs and branches unaffected.
The lesions were all sunken.
Lesions did not develop on the same side of the fruits or the tree, and a few lemons had lesions on more than one side of the fruit.
Before I received your reply, I cut open some of the lemons - the lesions went into the white part of the rind but not into the pulp (see photo). I made some really delicious lemon squares and disposed of the rinds down my disposal; I’m not sure there is a need here to throw out the lemons just yet!
I did try to research common diseases of Meyer lemons. Citrus leprosis virus caused by spider mites seemed to most visually resemble my lemons, although this condition does not yet occur inside the United States. https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus-production/plant-pathology/exotic-citrus-diseases/citrus-leprosis/
I also looked at California’s extension site and did not find an answer there:
If you can locate any additional information, that would be wonderful! We did have quite an unusual year with the ice storm and then heat wave, so my inclination is to see what happens next year, and to document more closely any unusual developments.
Thank you!
Karen
On Feb 28, 2022, at 4:44 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Dear Karen,
Thank you for sending the additional information about your lemons. Unfortunately, I have not found anything definitive either. There are possibilities, including bacterial and fungal diseases, although none of them seem to be confined to the fruit alone.
I suggest you assume the problem is one of these and maintain best management practices accordingly. Sterilize tools used for pruning or harvesting fruit. Keep the plant healthy with proper fertilizer, water, and sun exposure. It might be best to remove affected fruits early on, although that will reduce your harvest. I find nothing to indicate there is any danger in consuming the fruit, especially since it seems to affect only the outer portions.
If you wish to pursue this, I may be able to submit a sample to the lab at OSU. However, we would need for you to bring in a sample of the affected fruit and complete an intake form. The Marion County Master Gardeners Help Desk is open at the Extension office Monday through Friday from 9 am until 1 pm:
1320 Capitol St NE #110, Salem, OR 97301
Thank you for sending the additional information about your lemons. Unfortunately, I have not found anything definitive either. There are possibilities, including bacterial and fungal diseases, although none of them seem to be confined to the fruit alone.
I suggest you assume the problem is one of these and maintain best management practices accordingly. Sterilize tools used for pruning or harvesting fruit. Keep the plant healthy with proper fertilizer, water, and sun exposure. It might be best to remove affected fruits early on, although that will reduce your harvest. I find nothing to indicate there is any danger in consuming the fruit, especially since it seems to affect only the outer portions.
If you wish to pursue this, I may be able to submit a sample to the lab at OSU. However, we would need for you to bring in a sample of the affected fruit and complete an intake form. The Marion County Master Gardeners Help Desk is open at the Extension office Monday through Friday from 9 am until 1 pm:
1320 Capitol St NE #110, Salem, OR 97301
