What causes water cracks in apples? Plus prevention and control methods

Everyone is familiar with apples, and perhaps many friends have grown tired of eating them, but one cannot deny the economic value and nutritional value of apples themselves. Apples have a very long cultivation history in China, and a very mature set of cultivation techniques has already been developed. However, problems are inevitable during the growing process, and water cracks are one of them: water-stain-like cracks appear on the surface of the apples. They do not affect the taste, but they do affect the appearance and reduce the commercial value. So what causes them? Let's take a look!

1. Genes

Cause: Improper selection of varieties. The genes of many varieties contain the trait for water cracks, and when selecting seeds, varieties carrying the water crack trait were chosen.

Prevention and control: When selecting seeds, avoid varieties susceptible to water crack disease. Varieties with water crack disease include Fuji and Guoguang, among others. After selecting the seeds, disinfect them before sowing.

2. Weather

Cause: Sudden changes in weather are very harmful to fruit trees. For example, heavy irrigation of the soil during continuous high temperatures prevents the fruit trees from adapting in time, leading to water cracks.

Prevention and control: Take good countermeasures for all sudden weather changes, pay timely attention to weather changes, and prepare before the weather changes, such as preparing cooling and windproof facilities.

3. Soil

Cause: Excessive changes in soil moisture and improper management. For example, when the weather is ordinary and there is continuous water shortage, a sudden rainstorm or manual irrigation without controlled amounts leaves the apples unable to adapt in time. Alternatively, the soil's water-holding capacity is not strong, causing a large amount of water loss, and it is also highly prone to waterlogging, which damages the growth of the fruit trees greatly and leads to water cracks.

Prevention and control: Maintain the dry and wet condition of the soil; it should not alternate between suddenly wet and suddenly dry. Water promptly during drought and drain promptly after rainstorms, and actively handle all sudden situations. For soil with weak water-holding capacity, find ways to enhance it, promote soil moisture, and reduce the incidence of water cracks.

4. Fertilization

Cause: Wrong fertilization methods, or the wrong fertilizer. Applying a single fertilizer for a long time or applying it excessively obstructs and unbalances the fruit trees' nutrient absorption. It also reduces the resistance of the fruit trees. In particular, inadequately decomposed farmyard manure causes great harm to fruit growth.

Prevention and control: The nutrient composition of fertilizers needs to be prepared evenly, and a single fertilizer must not be applied alone, especially nitrogen fertilizer. Applying nitrogen fertilizer alone causes excessive vegetative growth of branches, insufficient nutrition in the fruit, and the formation of water cracks. The amount of fertilizer applied should not be too much; it is enough to suit development.

5. Fruit bags

Cause: Bagging is carried out when young fruit appears. To save money, some growers use fruit bags of extremely poor quality, so the fruit cannot shed water in time, or the bags cannot effectively prevent water during rain. The fruit stays soaked in water for a long time, resulting in water cracks.

Prevention and control: Do not use low-quality fruit bags just to save a few yuan; choose fruit bags with strong water-shedding and waterproof properties for bagging.

6. Light

Cause: Failure to prune the fruit trees in time or unreasonable pruning work keeps the orchard growing in a shaded, lightless environment for a long time, with extremely poor aeration, causing poor development of the fruit skin. Alternatively, after the bags are removed, the fruit receives uneven light, leading to water cracks.

Prevention and control: Do the orchard pruning work well, master the correct pruning methods, strengthen ventilation and light transmission in the orchard, and also plant at a reasonable density before planting. After removing the bags, let the fruit receive even light.

The above is a brief introduction to why apples develop water cracks and their prevention and control methods. It should also be noted that after the bags are removed, try to keep the fruit from contacting water. It may also be caused by the fruit trees being too old, which weakens their fruiting capacity. In short, most of the causes are due to management, so everyone must strengthen orchard management to effectively reduce the incidence of water cracks.