Crops
Fruit growth slits
( growth cracks )
( growth cracks )
Symptoms on fruits
Cracks, more or less deep and extensive bursts, occurring preferentially in the stalk and sometimes stylar areas of the fruits. These cracks can be longitudinal, radial ( radial crackings , figures 1 to 3) and even concentric ( concentric crackings ) (figure 4). The earlier they occur, the more damaging they are.
They mainly affect soil and field crops. Certain productions under shelter in the ground or above ground, harvested at advanced stages of maturity, are also affected.
Origin of damage
Non-parasitic disease
Too much water flow in the plant and the fruits; the elasticity of the epidermis of the latter is then not sufficient to compensate for their sudden growth. They end up splitting, and more or less bursting. This condition manifests itself particularly following abrupt climatic changes considerably modifying the growth rate of plants, in particular following very hot climatic periods with high light intensities.
How to cure it
Control the factors influencing water flow in plants.
L'irrigation
- Avoid intermittent irrigation.
- Prefer regular irrigations.
The climate
Beware of alternating overcast and cold weather then very sunny and hot and dry then strongly humid thereafter.
Ferti-irrigation
- Prevent sudden drops in the conductivity of the nutrient solution.
- Do not add too much nitrogen fertilizer and avoid low potassium levels.
Plant management
- Maintain an optimal foliage / fruit load balance and avoid plants that are not very vigorous or too growing, with succulent tissues.
- Fruits exposed to the sun are more affected. The plant cover will therefore be maintained and protected as best as possible from aerial pests.
- Crops irrigated with furrows are more vulnerable.
- Large fruit cultivars seem more susceptible.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4