Hollow heart

This non-parasitic chicory disease, long empirically attributed to unsuitable nitrogen fertilization, would in fact be initiated very early in nurseries exposed to high temperatures, especially during the fall. Recent observations have made it possible to hypothesize that, under these conditions, floral initiation would be triggered but bolting could not occur, due to the days that were too short. Apical dominance would be inhibited. Axillary buds would develop and the symptom of hollow heart would appear.

Other factors responsible for the destruction of the terminal bud, such as certain particularly "aggressive" pesticides or burns resulting from water retention on the apex could lead to the development of the hollow heart.

In some cases, secondary microorganisms can multiply and cause surface browning of the tissues (see link Modified Port and Figure 1).