Why Do Radishes Turn Deformed with Black Hearts? An Analysis of Cultivation Causes
Why do radishes turn deformed with black hearts? Please explain the causes. Deformed roots, split roots, black skin, black heart or pithy heart, bitterness, and pungency in radishes are caused by the following factors: 1. Deformed roots. Heavy rain, excessive irrigation, compacted soil; application of undecomposed organic fertilizer or uneven fertilization; too shallow a soil tillage layer, or hard...
Why do radishes turn deformed with black hearts? Please explain the causes.
Deformed roots, split roots, black skin, black heart or pithy heart, bitterness, and pungency in radishes are caused by the following factors:
1. Deformed roots. Heavy rain, excessive irrigation, compacted soil; application of undecomposed organic fertilizer or uneven fertilization; too shallow a soil tillage layer, or hard stones beneath the roots; excessive nitrogen content in organic fertilizer, or urea fertilizer directly contacting the fleshy root, all easily lead to the occurrence of deformed roots.
2. Split roots. Long-term drought, prolonged dry soil, suspension of root growth, then sudden heavy rain or irrigation, rapid root growth, easily causing split roots.
3. Black skin or black heart. Hard, compacted soil with poor aeration; application of undecomposed organic fertilizer, intense microbial activity in the soil consuming too much oxygen, etc., all easily cause root suffocation, and some tissues suffer oxygen deficiency, resulting in black skin or black heart. In addition, black rot also causes black heart.
4. Pithy heart. Some varieties with a short growing period, rapid growth, and loose flesh often develop pithy heart due to high soil temperature, water shortage, strong respiration, or late harvest, and high temperature and dryness during storage. Potassium deficiency in the soil, insufficient nutrient accumulation in the fleshy root, or premature bolting in certain varieties also easily cause pithy heart.
5. Pungency. Apart from varietal heredity, when the climate is hot and dry and organic fertilizer is insufficient, more mustard oil is produced, resulting in a strong pungent taste. 6. Bitterness. The bitterness of radishes is due to the production in the root of a nitrogen-containing alkaline organic compound, charantin. This phenomenon often occurs in hot weather, or with excessive nitrogen fertilizer and insufficient phosphorus fertilizer, or when a large amount of nitrogen chemical fertilizer alone is applied.
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