Citrus Growers Forum

bencelest · Posted: Tue 17 Oct, 2006 11:00 pm

Please tell me what causes the fruit to split? The sun's too hot or some mineral difficiency?

Laaz · Posted: Tue 17 Oct, 2006 11:22 pm

Quote:

Inappropriate water management leads to sunburn, or tough rind that is then unable to expand as fruit matures

Quote:

Navel Orange Split is an abiotic disorder for which there is no known chemical control. It is likely due to a combination of environmental conditions that prevent the rind of the fruit from expanding quickly enough to accommodate rapid increase of fruit size. The occurrence of fruit split is not predictable and will vary in degree from year to year and place to place. To manage or reduce the problem, try to avoid extreme fluctuation in soil moisture and fertilization levels throughout the growing season.

bencelest · Posted: Wed 18 Oct, 2006 4:33 pm

Thanks Laaz.

JoeReal · Posted: Wed 18 Oct, 2006 4:44 pm

It is very common with algerian clementine.

Sometimes, the cause can be traced to biotic disorder any of which can affect water stress and fruit filling though indirectly. The splitting itself is abiotic.

The general remedy is to help the trees have gradual changes in conditions through the fruit filling period.