Dr. Mohamed Fathy Salem and Khaled El BanaDepartment of Environmental BiotechnologyGenetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research InstituteGEBRI, Sadat City, Minufiya University, EgyptEmail: salemkairo@gmail.com or engkhaledelbana@gmail.com
Host: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Disease name: Blossom-end rotPathogen name: Calcium deficiency
SymptomsBlossom-end rot is a physiological disorder of tomato fruit. Initial symptoms can occur on green fruit and consist of small, light brown flecks and lesions that are usually clustered on the blossom end of the developing fruit. As the disorder worsens, a circular to oblong, dark brown, firm lesion develops on the blossom end.
Causal agentBlossom-end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the tissues at that end of the fruit. Calcium is not particularly mobile in plant tissues.
ControlTo minimize damage from this disorder, high-nitrogen fertilizers should not be overused. Crops should be irrigated regularly and with appropriate amounts of water. Calcium fertilizer supplements may help in some cases, but these treatments are generally ineffective. Cultivars that tend to develop this problem less frequently than others should be chosen.
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