Blossom End Rot Control

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BLOSSOM END ROT CONTROL

Blossom End Rot is mainly caused by low calcium levels during fruit growth. However, this disease can also be caused by excessive fertilizer use, high salt levels, uneven/low soil moisture and drought. Although this disease is not contagious or infectious to plants surrounding the host, the fruits or blossoms of the infected plant will die and result in a decrease in harvest yield.
HOST PLANTS: Common in tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.

SYMPTOMS: Blossom end rot may occur at any stage of growth in the development of the fruit, but, most commonly, are first seen when the fruit is 1/3 to 1/2 full size. As the name of the disease suggests, signs of infection appear only at the blossom end of the fruit. At first a small, water-soaked lesion appears, which expands and darkens rapidly as the fruits develop. The spot may grow until it covers as much as 1/3 to 1/2 of the entire surface of the fruit, or the spot may remain small and superficial. Large lesions soon dry out and become flattened, black, and leathery in appearance and texture.

FAVORED ENVIRONMENT: Low salt levels, droughts, and moisture shock (sudden change in moisture level) will cause this disease. Also rapid growth from excessive fertilizer application can promote the development of this disease.

BLOSSOM END ROT CONTROL: Control of blossom end rot is dependent upon maintaining adequate supplies of moisture and calcium to the developing fruits. They should be planted in well drained, adequately aerated soils. Tomatoes planted early in cold soil are likely to develop blossom end rot on the first fruits, with the severity of the disease often subsiding on fruits set later. Planting tomatoes in warmer soils helps to alleviate the problem. Irrigation must be sufficient to maintain a steady growth rate of the plants. When cultivation is necessary, it should not be too near the plants nor too deep, so that valuable feeder roots remain uninjured and viable. In home gardens, shading the plants is often helpful when hot, dry winds are blowing, and soil moisture is low. Use of fertilizer low in nitrogen, but high in superphosphate will do much to alleviate the problem of blossom end rot. In emergency situations, foliage can be sprayed with calcium chloride solutions. However, extreme caution must be exercised since calcium chloride can be phytotoxic if applied too frequently or in excessive amounts. Foliar treatment is not a substitute for proper treatment of the soil to maintain adequate supplies of water and calcium.

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