Stunted taro (Colocasia esculenta) plants, at right in photo, compared with normal plants. The plot at left was fumigated before planting to control root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica). |
 Stunted taro (Colocasia esculenta) plants, at right in photo, compared with normal plants. The plant at left was in a fumigated plot and not infected with root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne javanica).
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 Stunting and yellowing of watercress due to infection by the watercress aster yellows phytroplasma. |
To stunt is to hinder the normal growth, development, or progress of a plant.
Etymology. "check in growth, dwarf," 1659, verb use of M.E. adj. stunnt "foolish," from O.E. stunt "short-witted, foolish" (cf. stuntspręc "foolish talk"), from P.Gmc. *stuntaz (cf. O.N. stuttr "short"), from the root of stump.