Diagnosis and Management of Physiological disorders in Arid Fruit crops

R.K. Meena, D.K. Sarolia, S.V.R. Reddy, R.S. Singh, R. Bhargava and P.L. Saroj
ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner-334006

Introduction

India is the second largest producer of fruits crops in the world but productivity of arid fruit crops especially
in western Rajasthan is miserably low. The productivity as well as the quality of fruit crops is affected to a
greater extent due to various physiological disorders. The extremes of environmental variables like
changing environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, unbalanced soil nutrients, inadequate or
excess of certain soil minerals, extremes of soil pH, poor drainage and deficiency of micronutrients as well
as macronutrient causes many more disorders (Kumar & Kumar, 2015). At present, the climatic scenario of
arid region is also changing and the problems like frost, temperature fluctuation, moisture fluctuation, high
evaporation and low precipitation as well as nutrient imbalances are becoming a challenge for cultivation of
many arid fruit crops. Reasons of low productivity in hot arid ecosystem of western Rajasthan are primarily
physiological or stress related disorders such as styler- end browning in ber, fruit cracking in Bael and
pomegranate, internal necrosis in Aonla and black and white nose in date palm. The worldwide
approximately 70% of crop yield reduction is the direct effecting by abiotic factors (Acquaah 2007). In this
chapter we discussed the problems associated with ber, pomegranate, aonla, date palm & bael especially
physiological disorders which will certainly help the farmers in timely overcoming these maladies for getting
satisfactory remunerative prices from arid fruit crops under hot ecosystem of western Rajasthan

BER (Ziziphus mauritiana L.)

Stylar-end browning
It was identified in ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) cv. Chhuhara, wherein tip (stylar end) of the ber fruits
turned brown. It was found to aggravate with the progress in maturity. The affected fruits contain less
soluble solids content, reducing and total sugars and ascorbic acid; besides higher content of secondary
metabolites and enzymes responsible for oxidative browning. This disorder was found to occur under high
boron accumulation conditions, which was triggered by high temperature, coupled with high illumination
and evapo-transpiration (Franck et al. 2007, Buts et al. 2016, Kumar and Kumar 2016).
Fruit cracking
The causes of fruit cracking in arid condition may be due to soil moisture imbalance, low relative humidity
and fluctuation in day and night temperature as well as nutrient deficiency at the time of fruit development
and ripening stage. This disorder is characterized by cracks developed after a rain on the skin of the fruits,
sometimes deep into the flesh, affecting the stem end area, the calyx end and the cheeks of the fruit (side
cracks). Cracking in ber can be minimized by spray of Gibberellins @ 20 ppm, 2,4-D, NAA at
concentrations 20 ppm or 20 mg per litre and Boric acid @ 2g/l at the initial stage of aril development
reduces the activity of cellulose and reduced cracking. Use of organic manures & irrigated regularly during
the entire fruit development stage by conserving soil moisture through mulching, straw, black polythene
sheet etc. Erdinc Bektas et al (2018) sprayed 1% Parka (containing 7.5% stearic acid, 5% cellulose and
1% calcium) and GA3 (15 mg L−1) were sprayed yielded lower cracking rates.
Fruit drop
Heavy fruit drop occurs at early stage of fruit development i.e. during second fortnight of December. Many
reasons such as hormonal imbalance, abortion of embryo and inclement weather have been ascribed to
drop immature fruits in ber. The highest fruit drop in cv. Banarasi Pewandi as compared to Thornless and
Banarasi Karaka. Single spray of 10-20 ppm Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) one in mid- October shall be
sufficient to control fruit drop Singh and Bal (2006).

Physiological disorders of ber

POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.)
Fruit cracking
It is a most serious physiological disorder which hinders its cultivation to a great extent. In young fruits it
may be due to boron deficiency but fully grown fruit crack due to moisture imbalances or due to extreme
variations in day and night temperature (Abd El-Rhman, 2010). Prolonged drought causes hardening of
peel and if this is followed by heavy irrigation then the pulp grows and the peel cracks and if harvesting of
the mature fruit is delayed for long time or there is attack of insect pests it leads to cracking. This problem
can be overcome by maintaining soil moisture and, cultivation of tolerant varieties. The water retention
capacity of the plants should be increased by the use of organic manures. The plants should be irrigated
regularly during the entire fruit development stage. Early harvesting and spray of calcium hydroxide on
leaves and on fruit set reduces the incidence of fruit cracking. Foliar application of boron reduced the extent
of fruit cracking in pomegranate. GA is used for improving fruit set and also to control cracking in various
fruits including pomegranate. Application of GA3 @ 40 ppm in pomegranate reduced fruit cracking. Some
varieties like Sur-Anar, Francis, Shirvan, Krasnyl etc., were reported to be tolerant to cracking Lal et al.
(2012).The minimum fruit cracking was observed in CaSO4 3000 ppm followed by CaSO4 2000 ppm, GA3
40 ppm and borax 50 ppm by S. Lal et al ( 2011).

Sun scald
Sunburn injury is common in pomegranate due to high solar radiation levels and air temperatures, low
relative humidity in hot arid ecosystem of western Rajasthan. The incidence and severity of sunburn
depends upon climatic factor, cultivars, hormonal, nutritional and soil moisture. Fruit production losses due
to sunburn may be 6 to 30 per cent depending on seasons and the type of fruit. Grower must follow best
management practices to minimize sunburn and grow tolerant cultivars, efficient irrigation, appropriate
canopy management, cover or intercropping, over tree sprinkler, shade netting, fruit bagging, suppressants
(Kaolin or calcium carbonate) and chemical protectants reported by Narayan Lal and Nisha Sahu. (2017).
Spraying kaolin during the hot summer months is useful in reducing sunscald. First spray of 5% and
subsequently 1 or 2 additional spray with kaolin @2.5% at 15 days interval reduce sunscald. Bagging the
fruits with butter paper covers is useful in minimizing fruit spoilage due to sunscald. White colour bags are
more effective in reflecting sunlight and protecting the growing fruits.

Fruit cracking & Sun Scald in pomegranate

Internal breakdown
It is another serious disorder in pomegranate which leads to 50-60 % loss. This disorder is mostly occurs
in ambe bahar. Softening of fruits occur 90 days after anthesis and fruits become creamy-browny to dark
blackish-brown from outerside and became a severe, if matured fruits retain on the plants for 140 days
onwards. So, to avoid this disorder 130-135 days old fruits should be harvested (Sharma, 2005b).
Aril browning
Aril browning or internal breakdown of arils in pomegranate critically affect fruit quality in some commonly
grown cultivars such as, Ganesh and Bhagwa. Aril breakdown or browning is characterized by soft, light
creamy, brown, dark blackish or brown and slightly flattened arils which are deformed and possess an
unpleasant odour when the fruit is cut open. This disorder is accompanied by desiccation, wrinkling and
development of internal spaces in the arils. Experimental studies indicated that the juice and seed content
of affected fruits have reduced level of TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugars, calcium, phosphorus,
and enzyme catalase and increased level of non-reducing sugars, starch, tannins, nitrogen, potassium,
magnesium, boron and enzyme polyphenol oxidase compared to healthy fruits. Studies have shown that

Aril browning & Internal Break down in pomegranate

the malady is influenced by diverse factors such as genetic background, pruning, growing season, fruit
size, harvested date and variety. (Jalikop et al. 2010, Sandhu and Gill 2013)

AONLA (Emblica officinalis L.)

Internal necrosis
Necrosis symptoms starts with the browning of inner most part of the mesocrpic tissues, at the time of
endocarp hardening in the second and third week of September. Browning of mesocarp extends towards
the eptearp into brownish black areas on the fruit surface in the second and third week of October.
Depending upon the severity of the disorder, mesocarp of affected fruit turns black and become corky and
gummy pockets develop. Evaluation of aonla cultivars (NA-6, NA-7, NA-10, Kanchan and Chakaiya) at
NDUAT, Faizabad found to exhibit higher productivity and fruits are free from necrosis indicating their
suitability for fruit processing (Lekhram Verma, 2015). This disorder is due to the deficiency of boron for
which spray of 0.6% borax thrice in the month of September and October at about 10 to 15 days interval
are recommended to control the disorder. Combined spray of zinc sulphate (0.4%) + copper sulphate
(0.4%) and borax (0.4%) during September-October has been found effective (Sandhu and Gill 2013).
Resistant Cv. ‘Chakaiya’, ‘NA-6’ & ‘NA-7’ should be planted in the orchard for avoidance of this disorder.
Off-season flowering
Off season flowering is also a serious problem in aonla production. An economical loss of 30 to 40% due to
off season flowering in aonla was estimated by them. The main reason of this disorder may be global
warming or due to some alteration in the tree physiology due to externally governed internal mechanism
which leads to absence of distinct phase of dormancy after fruit harvest. Plant comes in partial flowering
with predominance of male flower which do not set fruit, exhaust the plant and disturb the physiology and
forcing the plant to enter in dormancy by spraying 10% urea after fruit harvest. Restricting soil moisture
build up near root zone can lead plant to enter into dormancy. Combined spray of Zink sulphate (0.4%) +
copper sulphate (0.4%) and borax (0.4%) during September- October has been found effective reported by Gorakh
Singh & Rajneesh Mishra. (2007).

Fruit drop:
It is a serious problem in aonla in western Rajasthan which influences the final yield of crop. There are
phases (three waves) of flower and fruit drop, observed in aonla.In case of the first wave, more than 70%
flowers drop within three weeks of flowering, which is normally due to lack of pollination, while during the
second wave the drop is that of young fruitlets at the time of dormancy break and in last, i.e. third wave the
droping of fruits is due to embryological and physiological factors and it is spread over the entire period of
the fruit development. It starts from later half of August and continues up to harvest (Sandhu and Gill 2013).
Fruit drop results due to many factors such as dry spell, imbalance of hormones, improper nutrition,
fluctuation in temperature, cultivars and age of tree, and number of developing fruits. Also delay in
harvesting results in heavy fruit drop particularly in Banarasi and Francis cultivars.
DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera L.)
Black nose
Black nose refers to abnormally shriveled and darkened tip of a date palm plants. Deglet Nour and Hayani
cultivars seem to be the most susceptible to this physiological disorder. Black nose results from excessive
checking of the epidermis, especially in the form of numerous small, transverse checks or breaks at the
stylar end of the fruit. Pronounced shriveling and darkening occur in proportion to the abundance of the
checks and are related to humid weather at the Khalaal stage observed by ChihCheng T. Chao (2007). The
checking is induced by high humidity and rainfall, it can be measured to avoid conditions that increase
environment humidity. The conditions to be avoided include excessive soil moisture and the presence of
intercrops and weeds, especially at the susceptible stage of fruit development. This problem can be
managed by bagging of fruits in brown paper. Over thinning can also increase the incidence of checking
and subsequent development of black nose.
Crosscuts (V- Cuts)
Crosscuts are a physiological disorder of fruit stalks and fronds. It consists of a slight to deep notch, similar
to a cut artificially done by a knife. Fruits borne on strands in line with the break wither and fail to mature
properly. Crosscuts result from an anatomical defect in the fruit stalks and fronds involving internal, sterile
cavities leading to mechanical breaks during elongation of the stalk or the fronds reported by Yuval Cohen
(2010). Crosscuts are commonly found in varieties having crowded leaf bases like Sayer and Khadrawy
control measures is not use such plants for propagation.
White nose
White nose in date palm causing due to low RH as the fruit is advanced from the rutab to the tamer stage,
especially in the case of Hillawi and Zahidi dates (Ait-Oubahou and Yahia, 1999). It is characterized by the
presence of a disco loured ring near the calyx area, which sometimes covers 50% of the fruit. It has been
suggested that dry winds for many days during the rutab stage of ripening can cause the basal region of
the fruit to ripen more than the rest, causing the ring appearance. However, some studies have shown that
this physiological disorder may be due to calcium within the fruit with the basal end containing less calcium
than the apical end (Ibrahim, 1995).The disorder is alleviated or reduced in Hillawi dates by soaking in hot
water (75°C) for five minutes (Ait-Oubahou and Yahia, 1999).White nose disease is commonly found in
Iraq. Dry and prolonged wind in the early Rutab stage causes rapid maturation and desiccation of the fruit
resulting in whitish drying at the calyx end of the fruit. The affected fruit becomes very dry, hard and has
high sugar content. Hydration may correct this condition in harvested fruits.
Barhee disorder
It is caused by unbalanced bunches of fruits or insect attack at one side of the shoot bud (Sudhersan and
Yousif Al-Shayji, 2007). Barhee disorder is characterized by an unusual bending of the crown of Barhee
and Dayri date palm varieties. The disease was first reported in California (USA) and later in Al Basra
(Iraq). Affected palms were found to bend mostly to the south and sometimes to the south-west. This
phenomenon is severe and bending could reach an angle of about 90. The growers are correcting this
situation by fixing a heavy iron bar to the opposite side of the bending; fruit bunches from the opposite side
are tied to this bar in order to move the actual weight against the bending side. It seems that within 2 to 3
years, the bending is corrected. Bunch handling is also proposed to correct such an abnormality.

Black scald
Black scald, different from black nose, is a minor disorder of unknown cause occurring in the United States.
It consists of a blackened and sunken area with a definite line of demarcation. The disease usually appears
on the tip or the sides of the fruit, and affected tissues have a bitter taste. The exact cause of this disorder
is high temperature & humidity (Ait-Oubahou and Yahia, 1999). This physiological disorder occurs
particularly in Deglet Noor dates. It can be managed by wrapping the fruits with brown papers.
Frost damage
The date palm resists large temperature variations (-5 to 50°C) with a growth optimum between 32 and
38°C and a zero of vegetation of about 7°C. The vegetative activity will also decrease above 40°C and
ceases around 45°C. When temperature falls below 0°C, it causes serious metabolic disorders with some
injury to date palm leaves characterized by a partial or total desiccation. Water of protoplasma freezes after
coming out from the cells during defrost, water invaded inter-cellular spaces and affected leaves turn brown
and desiccated.
The most practical and available protection for the date growers is to turn on the water and keep
the date plantation wet when the temperature begins to get low enough (-5°C and below). A date plantation
just irrigated or being irrigated when the temperature falls, has some heat stored, which gives protection.
Lack or excess of water
The growth of the date palm is highly affected by variations in water availability and the water content of the
soil. A decrease in yield or complete failure in fruit production could result from these water variations. To
compensate for high evapotranspiration, the date palm requires a quantity of water from 1,500 to 2,800
mm/year. Prolonged water stress will significantly decrease growth and yield, and if the drought continues
for several years, date palm can dry up and die.
On the other hand, when the water table is high and drainage is inadequate and/or the leaching
and transport of soluble salts is not complete, high evaporation rates tend to increase the concentration of
salts in soil and in surface water. However, there are limits of salt tolerance and the date palm will not grow
when soluble salt of the soil is above 6 percent. Although date palms are resistant to flooding, healthy
growth of palms requires a well-drained soil, and it is clear that irrigation must always go hand in hand with
drainage.

Bael (Aegle marmelos L.)

Fruit cracking
Fruit cracking is an important physiological disorder found in some commercial cultivars throughout the
growth and development period of fruit. Spray of growth regulators also help to reduce the ill effect of
hormonal imbalances (Sandhu and Gill, 2013). From the review, it is clear that physiological disorders
have become menace in many fruit crops resulting in huge losses to growers. There is a need for long-term
quantitative documentation of tree phonological patterns in diverse climatic zones of India. Recent
advances in physiology and genetics may help solve problems of perennial fruit tree production. Though
molecular biology have greatly improved our understanding of plant responses to stresses in many
important commercial horticultural crops, a lack of transcriptomic and genomic information hinders our
understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit-set and fruit development. There is need for
exhaustive studies to know the precise physiological significance of radiation effect in climatic fastidious
fruit crops. Intelligent anticipatory management strategies and adaptation will be the critical components for
successful and sustainable quality fruit production. Management aspects may include biophysical
treatments including reclamation of deficiency and excess of nutrient elements by proper fertility status
maintenance, timely agronomical operations and input application. Location specific management
strategies for important perennial fruit crops will require focused attention through multidisciplinary
approach including adaptation and management.
 Cracking and fruit drop in Bael
Fruit Drop: fruit drop in Bael occurs due to embryo abortion, physiological imbalances, fruit borer attack,
fruit rotting and fruit cracking. Fruit drop was recorded high in month of July in all varieties which continued
till harvest and again showed the peak in the month February. Although, the crossing between Pant Shivani
x Pant Sujata and spray of NAA 20 ppm reduced the fruit drop percentage but the spray of Borax @ 1.0%
was found most effective in reducing the fruit drop and increasing the physicochemical characters of fruits.
Fruit drop in bael can be minimized by spray of NAA (10, 20 and 30 ppm), 2, 4-D (5, 10 and 20 ppm), GA3
(25, 50 and 50 ppm) and ethrel (50,100 and 150 ppm) in bael cv. Pant Shivani reported by Sunita Uniyal
and K.K. Mishra (2015).

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