What causes blossom end rot in tomatoes and how to control

What really causes blossom end rot (BER)?

• Blossom end rot is a physiological condition caused by calcium nitrogen imbalance in the soil, especially when the moisture level in the soil is low.

Major symptoms of blossom end rot

• The first visible symptom of blossom-end rot (BER) is a water-soaked area near the blossom scar of the fruit. This area later develops into a tan to brown, leathery, sunken lesion.
• Saprophytic fungi often colonize these lesions, which gives them a grey to black, velvety appearance.
• Sometimes an internal black rot of tissue in the centre of the fruit will develop with little or no external symptoms.
• Typically, immature green fruit that has begun sizing is first to develop symptoms of BER.

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What are the conditions for symptoms development?

• Blossom-end rot is associated with insufficient calcium uptake and alternating periods of wet and dry soil.
• Though BER is associated with mature fruit, young, rapidly growing fruit are most prone to calcium deficiency.
• Sudden and extreme changes in water availability may induce fruit growth fluctuations that lead to BER.
• Stress associated with root damage, mild drought, high soil salinity, or excess Nitrogen (excess ammonium) also may cause BER.
• The incidence of BER may increase when relative humidity remains high for prolonged periods due to reduced water uptake by plants.
• Bacterial wilt is another disease associated with high losses in greenhouse tomatoes farming. But can you farm tomatoes in bacterial wilt affected greenhouses? find out here.

How to prevent and control blossom end rot

• Grow tolerant varieties to help reduce the occurrence of BER.
• Drip irrigate to supply an even amount of water and apply lime to soils low in calcium.
• Avoid using ammonium sources of fertilizer or excess magnesium since both increase demand for calcium by plants and reduce the availability of calcium in the soil.
• Fertilize with calcium nitrate in areas where BER is known to occur.
• Foliar application with Calmax foliar (calcium based foliar) on the non-infected plants to prevent the spread of infection. Damaged fruits by BER cannot heal. Just harvest and bury them far from the farm.
• Irrigate during periods of dry weather and apply mulch to plant beds to provide more constant soil moisture to plants.
• Avoid saline soils and fields that are difficult to irrigate uniformly.
• Root injury caused by mechanical damage during cultivation or by the disease can exacerbate BER and should be avoided.

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Reference: Seminis

About Post Author

Kelvin Wairimu

Kelvin Wairimu is a Young Passionate Agripreneur, Manager and Chief Editor Of The Farmworx. He is an Experienced and Practicing Farmer, Agricultural Economist and a Consultant.He holds a Bacherors Degree in Agricultural Economics From University of Eldoret,CPA 3 And a Certificate in Advanced Computer Software.

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