What causes nectarine fruit cracking?

It has been two or three days since August began, and as temperatures rise, nectarines have started entering the market. Nectarines are one of the many peach varieties and are also the most popular variety on the market, but as they enter the market, nectarines also develop some problems. Among them, fruit cracking is the most common problem in nectarines, and fruit cracking severely affects the quality of nectarines. So what exactly causes nectarine fruit cracking? Let's take a look.

1. Variety

There are many nectarine varieties, and fruit cracking may be caused by variety factors. Different nectarine varieties have different degrees and rates of fruit cracking, because nectarine fruit cracking is not related to size but to the cell structure of the nectarine skin. During the fruit expansion period, the skin begins to become brittle and the flesh becomes soft, and the skin grows more slowly than the flesh. According to survey results, varieties with softer, thicker skin and a compact structure crack less, for example Shuangxihong has a cracking rate of only 11.5%. Varieties with thin, soft skin and a loose structure have higher cracking rates, for example Zhongyou No. 4 has a cracking rate as high as 77.9%.

2. Climate

Climate is also a factor that cannot be ignored in causing nectarine fruit cracking. Because when the summer rainy season arrives, early- and mid-season nectarine varieties are just in their final expansion and ripening period, and encountering continuous overcast and rainy weather causes physiological changes in the nectarines. The adhesion capacity of the nectarine cells decreases, and some soluble substances increase, causing the nectarine flesh to soften, the skin to thin, and the internal structure to become loose and soft; the skin grows more slowly and cannot withstand the expansion of the flesh, resulting in fruit cracking.

3. Soil

Soil is also one of the causes of fruit cracking, because nectarines need more nutrients to grow, and the absorption and transfer of nutrients all start from the roots. If the soil lacks a certain element, the soil's nutrients become imbalanced, causing the nectarines to lack a certain element and crack. For example, if the soil lacks calcium, calcium is an important component of plant cell walls and can enhance the strength of cell walls; without calcium, the resistance of cell walls becomes weaker. They cannot withstand the pressure and squeezing of the flesh cells, causing fruit cracking.

4. Management

Improper manual management causing external damage to the fruit skin surface, sunburn on the skin, and the occurrence of pests, diseases, and pesticide damage can also lead to nectarine fruit cracking. Excessive light exposure causes the fruit skin surface to dry out and lose moisture. Moreover, fruit cracking is also closely related to tree vigor and tree age; fruit at the top has a higher cracking rate, while that at the middle and lower parts is lower.

The above are the reasons why nectarines crack. When selecting varieties and sowing, choose varieties with a lower cracking rate, such as Shuangxihong and Zhongyou No. 14, and strengthen orchard management. Do not manage nectarine trees blindly; it is harmful to the nectarines and to yourself with no benefit at all. If you want to learn more about fruit, please continue to follow our Qinnong Network.