Why Do Honey Pomelos Split? Detailed Explanation of Causes and Solutions
There are many varieties of honey pomelo and they are grown over a wide range, but because of differences in soil, temperature and humidity, and other conditions, fruit splitting is becoming increasingly serious, especially in dry and poor orchards where the problem is particularly severe. So is there any way to reduce the incidence of fruit splitting in honey pomelo? Follow the editor and take a look.
I. Causes of Honey Pomelo Fruit Splitting
1. Moisture
During the fruit expansion period of honey pomelo, continuous drought, high temperatures and insufficient water supply will cause the outer skin of the fruit to shrink. When heavy rain suddenly falls or large amounts of irrigation water are applied, the plant rapidly absorbs water, the flesh tissue absorbs too quickly and presses against the peel, while the peel cells absorb water more slowly, and because the cortex is thin and low in elasticity, fruit splitting occurs very easily.
2. Nutrient deficiency
Honey pomelo can also split when it lacks elements such as potassium, calcium and boron. Applying excessive phosphate fertilizer and too little potassium fertilizer during the flowering period will cause the peel to become thin and lead to fruit splitting. Calcium is an important component of pectin, and pectin can increase cell wall strength and flesh tissue firmness, reducing the rate of fruit splitting. Boron deficiency causes gumming and shrinkage and rupture of the sponge layer, resulting in fruit splitting.
3. Improper fertilization
If sufficient fruit-strengthening fertilizer is not applied, and there is excessive rain in the middle and late stages of plant growth, topdressing is too late, and the tree and fruit absorb large amounts of nutrients and water, causing uneven expansion inside and outside the fruit and resulting in fruit splitting.
4. Improper girdling
After girdling, the wound heals slowly, nutrient transport is blocked during the young fruit stage, and young fruit growth is restricted. After healing in the middle and late stages, nutrient transport suddenly increases, which can also cause fruit splitting.
5. Hormones
The seeds and peel of honey pomelo can both produce gibberellin, but honey pomelo seeds are aborted or absent, so gibberellin cannot be produced normally, causing the peel and segments to grow at different rates and the flesh and peel to develop out of sync, making fruit splitting very likely.
II. Solutions
1. Improve the drainage and irrigation system
A complete drainage and irrigation system should be established in the orchard, so that water can be applied promptly during high temperatures and drought, and drained promptly during the rainy season, ensuring that the orchard soil stays within a suitable humidity range.
2. Leave some grass appropriately
Some grass can be left appropriately in the orchard. This not only maintains soil moisture but also increases soil organic matter content, improves the soil's buffering capacity for water, and reduces fruit splitting caused by the editor beginning to swell due to massive cell water absorption after rain.
3. Reasonable fertilization
The proportion of organic fertilizer applied should be increased. The total amount of fertilizer applied during the plant growth period should account for 80%-90% of the total fertilizer applied during the entire fruit period. At the same time, the application of potassium, calcium and boron fertilizers should be increased, and as little or no fertilizer as possible should be applied in the later stage.
4. Reasonable girdling
Girdling is mostly carried out around the winter solstice, with a width of about 0.3 cm, cutting deep into the xylem without injuring the xylem. The girdling cut should move upward year by year, and the wound should be wrapped with black adhesive tape 20 days after girdling.
The above is an introduction to the causes of honey pomelo fruit splitting and the solutions. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.