What causes flower and fruit drop in eggplants?

First, unsuitable temperature. Eggplants require a relatively high temperature during the fruiting period. The optimal temperature during the fruiting period is between 25-30°C, and the nighttime temperature should be between 15-20°C. When the temperature is below 15°C or above 35°C, growth slows down and flower drop is severe, which in production manifests as fewer fruits setting in the early stage and in summer.

Second, poor flower development. When eggplant flowers develop well, the flowers are large in shape and deep in color, and at flowering the style is longer than or equal to the stamens, which favors pollination and fertilization and results in good fruit set. When development is poor, the style is shorter than the stamens, pollination is difficult to achieve, and most flowers drop off.

Third, nutrient deficiency. Lack of fertilizer and water leads to thin and weak plant growth, and when nutrients are used to maintain growth, reproductive capacity is low and fruit set is poor.

Fourth, untimely topdressing and improper timing are also unfavorable for fruit set. It generally manifests as topdressing too early, causing excessive vegetative growth, which leads to flower and fruit drop. When topdressing is untimely, the plants age prematurely and production capacity decreases, which is also unfavorable for fruit set.

Fifth, improper fertilization ratios cause the plants to grow excessively or become weak, throwing the ratio of vegetative growth to reproductive growth out of balance, making fruit set difficult.

Sixth, poor light. Low photosynthetic capacity leads to poor flower quality and easy drop; eggplants are light-loving crops with strict requirements for light duration. When light is weak, plant growth and development slow down, fewer flowers form, and flower bud quality is poor.

Seventh, pests and diseases. They reduce the plant's photosynthetic capacity, which is unfavorable for the accumulation of photosynthetic products and also unfavorable for flower formation and fruit set. The main pests and diseases harming eggplants include Verticillium wilt, aphids, red spider mites, and so on. Zhang Xiufeng