Abnormal Leaf Development on White Oaks Linked to Drift of Chloroacetamide Herbicides

Abstract

In the last few decades, white oak in the north central region have developed malformed spring leaves called “leaf tatters.” Symptoms begin with the death of interveinal leaf tissues, eventually leaving only the main leaf veins with little interveinal tissues present. Winter injury, frost, insect attack, and herbicide drift were all thought to be possible causes of leaf tatters. This study indicates that drift of chloroacetamide herbicides from applications onto corn and soybean fields is a possible cause of the leaf tatters syndrome. Accepted for publication 14 February 2005. Published 21 February 2005.