What Causes Skin-Speckled Fruit in Dragon Fruit? Analysis of the Latest Control Measures

Skin-speckled fruit in dragon fruit is simply speckled skin, which can seriously affect the quality of dragon fruit, cause it to lose its commercial value, and result in relatively large economic losses. Based on the size of the speckled area, it is divided into small speckled skin and large speckled skin, and their causes are different. Let's take a look below at the control measures for skin-speckled fruit in dragon fruit.

I. Causes of Skin-Speckled Fruit

1. Large skin-speckled fruit caused by pesticide use

This is mainly caused by feeding damage from the tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and by the use of herbicides directly on relatively low retained branches, causing large areas of scorch spots that occupy an extremely large portion of the fruit. Once it occurs, the fruit is generally inedible.

2. Causes of small skin-speckled fruit

In the south, rainfall is relatively heavy, and the influence of acid rain or failure to apply pesticides in time leads to small skin-speckled fruit on the flowering heart; during the rainy season, improper disease prevention, especially of canker, can lead to skin-speckled fruit when prevention is not timely. In addition, improper pesticide use causes canker to occur relatively severely, which can also lead to skin-speckled fruit; arbitrarily increasing the concentration of the pesticide used causes scorch spots to remain on the fruit, resulting in skin-speckled fruit; there is also the failure to control pests such as ants and cotton mealybugs in time or incorrect application methods, which cause wounds on the fruit, and under high temperatures small spots form next time, creating skin-speckled fruit.

II. Control Measures

1. Choose sandy soil

Before establishing the orchard, sandy soil should be chosen for the site, and the soil water content should be kept as low as possible. If there is too much soil moisture, the resistance of dragon fruit will decline, making it highly susceptible to pests and diseases and ultimately causing skin-speckled fruit.

2. Regular disinfection and sterilization

The soil of the fruit trees should be disinfected and sterilized regularly to protect uninfected fruit from pathogen infection. In daily management, rotten branches and weeds should be removed promptly, taken out of the orchard, and the wounds should be sprayed for protection.

3. Improve tree resistance

Dragon fruit is a cactus family plant and likes light while tolerating shade, and tolerates heat and drought. Therefore, during cultivation, attention should be paid to drainage work as well as fertilizer and water management to improve the resistance of the fruit trees, promote plant growth and development, and reduce the incidence of disease.

4. Choose varieties with higher resistance

Relatively speaking, white-fleshed dragon fruit has higher resistance than red-fleshed dragon fruit, and white-fleshed dragon fruit can be planted in appropriate amounts. However, red-fleshed dragon fruit has higher quality and a higher unit price, so most growers prefer to plant red-fleshed dragon fruit. This is also one of the reasons why dragon fruit canker occurs more and more frequently.

5. Control canker

Canker is prone to breaking out in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. Control should focus on prevention, with a combination of prevention and treatment. Pyraclostrobin, procymidone, zhongshengmycin or streptomycin can be sprayed, with relatively good results.

  The above is an introduction to the causes of skin-speckled fruit in dragon fruit and the control measures. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.