Chatham County, June 2002

Diagnosis: Genetic Mutation

The very strange growth of this patty pan squash was likely caused by a genetic mutation. No known pathogens cause this type of problem in squash. Pesticides with a growth regulator effect can sometimes cause this type of distortion but because this was an isolated problem that affected only one plant, and occurred on an organic farm where the possibility of pesticide drift is minimal, this cause was ruled out.

This page last updated January 16, 2006.