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Physiological Disorders in Horticultural Produce and Their Prevention

Overview of physiological disorders in fruits, vegetables, and flowers, including causes, symptoms, and preventive measures to improve quality, shelf life, and marketability of horticultural crops.

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Physiological disorders of horticultural produce: Different physiological disorders of fruits, vegetables and flowers and their preventive measures Prepared by Umesh Timilsina Assistant Professor CNRM, Bardibas Agriculture and Forestry University
Physiological disorder • A physiological disorder is an abnormal condition in horticultural produce resulting from environmental stress, nutritional deficiency or excess, water imbalance, temperature extremes, or improper storage conditions, leading to deterioration in quality, appearance, and market value. • Unlike diseases, these disorders are not caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or insects.
Causes of Physiological Disorders • Nutrient deficiency or toxicity • Moisture stress (drought or excess irrigation) • High or low temperature • Sunlight injury • Humidity fluctuations • Poor ventilation • Ethylene injury • Mechanical damage • Improper harvesting stage • Inappropriate storage conditions • Oxygen and carbon dioxide imbalance • Genetic susceptibility
Importance of Studying Physiological Disorders • Reduces post-harvest losses. • Improves produce quality. • Extends shelf life. • Enhances marketability. • Increases export potential. • Improves farmer income.
Physiological Disorders of Fruits Disorder Crop Symptoms Cause Preventive Measures Fruit cracking Pomegranate, Litchi, Cherry, Tomato Cracked fruits Sudden irrigation after drought, boron deficiency Uniform irrigation, boron spray, mulching Sunburn (Sunscald) Mango, Apple, Citrus Brown or bleached patches High temperature and direct sunlight Proper canopy management, shade nets, whitewash Spongy tissue Mango Soft, yellowish pulp with poor flavor High temperature during fruit development Timely harvesting, proper orchard management Internal breakdown Mango Flesh becomes soft and discolored Improper maturity and storage Harvest at proper maturity, suitable storage Bitter pit Apple Small sunken dark spots under skin Calcium deficiency Calcium sprays, balanced fertilization Water core Apple Water-soaked flesh Excess maturity and cool weather Timely harvesting Chilling injury Banana, Mango, Papaya Surface pitting, discoloration, poor ripening Storage below critical temperature Store at recommended temperatures Black nose Date palm Blackening at fruit tip Calcium deficiency and heat stress Balanced nutrition and irrigation
Bitter pit in Apple Watercore in apple
Spongy tissue in mango Chilling Injury
Physiological Disorders of Vegetables Disorder Crop Symptoms Cause Preventive Measures Blossom end rot Tomato, Chilli Black sunken lesion at blossom end Calcium deficiency, irregular watering Calcium spray, uniform irrigation Hollow heart Potato Hollow cavity in tubers Rapid growth, uneven moisture Balanced fertilization and irrigation Greening Potato Green skin due to chlorophyll Exposure to sunlight Proper earthing-up and dark storage Black heart Potato Internal blackening Oxygen deficiency during storage Proper ventilation Tip burn Lettuce, Cabbage Burnt leaf margins Calcium deficiency Calcium application, proper irrigation Pithiness Radish Spongy roots Delayed harvesting, high temperature Timely harvesting Forking Carrot Branched roots Stones, fresh manure, compact soil Fine seedbed, avoid fresh FYM Buttoning Cauliflower Small premature curds Poor nutrition, low temperature, over-aged seedlings Proper fertilizer, timely transplanting Riceyness Cauliflower Loose granular curds High temperature Grow suitable varieties in the proper season
Forking in Carrot Pithiness
Buttoning in Cauliflower Riceyness in Cauliflower
Whiptail Greening in Potato
Physiological Disorders of Flowers Disorder Flower Crop Symptoms Cause Preventive Measures Bent neck Rose Flower head bends downward Poor water uptake, bacterial blockage Clean water, recut stems, preservatives Petal blackening Rose Black petal edges Low temperature and handling injury Proper storage and careful handling Bud blasting Rose, Lily Buds fail to open Water stress, ethylene, nutrient deficiency Maintain humidity, avoid ethylene exposure Shattering Carnation Petals fall prematurely Ethylene exposure Use ethylene inhibitors and proper storage Leaf yellowing Chrysanthemum Yellow leaves Nitrogen deficiency, ethylene Balanced nutrition, cold chain maintenance Flower drop Orchid Premature flower abscission Ethylene, water stress Avoid ethylene and maintain humidity
Bent Neck Petal blackening
Storage Disorders A. Chilling Injury • Damage caused when tropical and subtropical fruits or vegetables are stored below their critical temperature but above the freezing point. Symptoms • Surface pitting • Browning • Poor ripening • Water-soaked areas • Increased decay
Examples • Banana • Mango • Papaya • Cucumber • Eggplant Prevention • Store at recommended temperatures. • Avoid prolonged exposure to low temperatures. • Maintain recommended relative humidity.
B. Freezing Injury • Damage caused when produce is exposed to temperatures below its freezing point. Symptoms • Water-soaked tissues • Softening • Tissue collapse • Leakage of cell contents Prevention • Maintain proper storage temperature. • Monitor cold storage regularly.
Disorders Caused by Ethylene Disorder Crop Prevention Premature ripening Banana, Mango Remove ethylene sources Leaf yellowing Flowers Store away from ethylene-producing fruits Flower drop Orchid Good ventilation Bud blasting Rose Use ethylene absorbers (e.g., potassium permanganate)
Disorders Caused by Nutrient Deficiencies Nutrient Disorder Crop Calcium Blossom end rot Tomato Calcium Bitter pit Apple Boron Fruit cracking Pomegranate Magnesium Interveinal chlorosis Citrus Potassium Poor fruit colour Mango Nitrogen Leaf yellowing Leafy vegetables
Disorders Due to Water Stress Water Stress Effect Drought Fruit cracking, reduced size Excess irrigation Fruit splitting, root disorders Irregular irrigation Blossom end rot, cracking
General Preventive Measures Pre-harvest • Select suitable varieties. • Apply balanced fertilizers. • Correct nutrient deficiencies promptly. • Maintain uniform irrigation. • Practice mulching. • Manage canopy properly. • Harvest at the correct maturity stage. • Control pests and diseases to minimize stress.
Post-harvest • Handle produce carefully to avoid injury. • Pre-cool immediately after harvest. • Maintain the cold chain. • Store at recommended temperature and humidity. • Use appropriate packaging. • Avoid ethylene-sensitive and ethylene-producing commodities being stored together. • Apply approved post-harvest treatments when necessary.
Recommended Storage Conditions for Selected Crops Crop Temperature Relative Humidity Mango 12–13°C 85–90% Banana 13–14°C 90–95% Papaya 10–13°C 90–95% Apple 0–4°C 90–95% Tomato (mature green) 12–15°C 85–90% Potato 4–10°C (table), 8–12°C (processing) 90–95% Rose 0–2°C 90–95% Carnation 0–1°C 90–95%
Summary Table of Important Physiological Disorders Crop Physiological Disorder Main Cause Prevention Mango Spongy tissue High temperature Proper harvest and orchard management Apple Bitter pit Calcium deficiency Calcium sprays Banana Chilling injury Low temperature Proper storage temperature Tomato Blossom end rot Calcium deficiency Calcium application and uniform irrigation Potato Greening Sunlight exposure Earthing-up and dark storage Potato Hollow heart Uneven growth Balanced irrigation and fertilization Cauliflower Buttoning Poor nutrition Proper fertilizer and transplanting Radish Pithiness Delayed harvest Timely harvesting Rose Bent neck Poor water uptake Recut stems and use clean water Carnation Shattering Ethylene Ethylene management
Key Differences Between Physiological Disorders and Diseases Physiological Disorders Diseases Non-infectious Infectious Caused by environmental or nutritional factors Caused by pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses) Do not spread from plant to plant Can spread between plants Managed by correcting environmental conditions Managed by pesticides or biological control
Key Points • Physiological disorders are non-infectious abnormalities caused by environmental, nutritional, genetic, or post-harvest factors. • Major fruit disorders include fruit cracking, bitter pit, spongy tissue, sunburn, water core, and chilling injury. • Important vegetable disorders include blossom end rot, hollow heart, greening, black heart, tip burn, pithiness, forking, buttoning, and riceyness. • Common flower disorders are bent neck, bud blasting, shattering, petal blackening, blueing, and flower drop. • Calcium deficiency is responsible for several important disorders, including blossom end rot, bitter pit, and tip burn. • Proper irrigation, balanced nutrition, correct harvesting stage, recommended storage temperature, pre-cooling, and careful handling are the most effective strategies for preventing physiological disorders. • Understanding these disorders and their preventive measures is essential for maintaining post- harvest quality, extending shelf life, and reducing economic losses in horticultural crops.