Leaves

Roots





CARROT - Daucus carota var. saliva


AFFECTING LEAVES:

CONDITION
CAUSE
Yellow, dwarfed young leaves, bushy growth, purpled leaves
Aster yellows (Phytoplasma)
Yellow leaves, older first; stunted plants
Nitrogen deficiency
Yellow-bronze, curled leaves; bushy top growth
Aphids
Dark spots with yellow borders
Cercospora leaf blight (Cercospora spp.) if younger leaves are affected. Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria spp.) if older leaves are affected.
Seedlings clipped off at soil line
Cutworms (Noctuidae spp.)
Poor seedling emergence
Crusted soil; high temperatures

AFFECTING ROOTS:

CONDITION
CAUSE
Roots chewed, meandering scars allon root with a rusty-red color
Carrot rust fly (Psila rosae)
Yellow, stunted plants that wilt during bright, hot days and recover at night
Usually a sign that roots are injured. Pull up plant and check roots for Wireworms or Root-knot nematodes (see below)
Small, irregular holes scattered over surface of root; Damage usually occurs later in the season and is worse in dry years.
Wireworms
Bumps on roots and deformed carrots
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)
Jagged cracks, water-soaked appearance
Freezing injury
Forked roots
Can occur if soils are heavy, compacted, or stony; if root tips are injured; if roots are overcrowded.
Dark tunnels, often in a zig-zag pattern, on upper and outer part of root
Carrot weevil (Otiorynchus spp.)
Internal cavity spot
Calcium deficiency
Spindly, short roots
Can be caused by potassium deficiency or excessive heat
Poor color and taste
Caused by magnesium deficiency, phosphorus deficiency, low temperatures and excessive heat
Small, woody, hairy, pale roots
Carrot yellows (Phytoplasma)
Green shoulders
Exposure to sunlight


Missoula County Extension Office; Missoula, Montana 59808 - Updated for 2006