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Plant Pathology InfobytesJuly
7, 1999 "What's going on with my tomato fruit? The bottom is turning black, and I've lost a good many fruit over the past week. How can I correct this problem?" The above is a common question received by County Extension Offices, and the symptoms described are the result of blossom-end rot, a non-parasitic disease. Blossom-end rot is caused by a shortage of calcium in developing fruit due to a lack of uptake of this essential growth element from the soil. Tomato plants growing in soil low in calcium content and improperly watered are more likely to be produce blossom-end rot affected fruit. It's best to try and keep the soil moisture as even as possible and avoid letting soils dry out before watering. Also, blossom-end rot is generally more severe when plants are fertilized too heavily with nitrogen. The problem occurs at any stage of fruit growth but is most common on fruit one-third to one-half grown. The first symptom of blossom-end rot is a slight discoloration, water-soaked in appearance, occurring at the blossom-end (bottom) of the fruit. This area enlarges rapidly, producing a dark brown or black sunken area. The skin over the affected area becomes dry and leathery. The following control recommendations will reduce the amount of tomato fruit lost to blossom-end rot:
If you have questions about blossom end-rot, or any other gardening problem, give us a call at the County Extension Office. |
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