What to do about poor color development in tomatoes? Cause analysis and control methods

Tomato is one of the common vegetables in our daily lives. When unripe, it is green, and when ripe, it is red. As it gradually matures, the green gradually turns to red. However, certain factors can cause poor coloring in tomatoes, resulting in a phenomenon where green and yellow meet. So what causes this? How should it be prevented and controlled? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction.

1. Temperature too low

Tomato plants contain chlorophyll and carotenoids, and their color change is controlled by these two pigments. When the low temperature is below 16°C, carotene is inhibited, and when it is below 24°C, lycopene formation is inhibited, which leads to poor coloring. This is generally more serious in greenhouses, and it may also be caused by a large day-night temperature difference.

Control method: When entering a low-temperature period, tomatoes develop poor coloring because the temperature cannot meet the requirements for lycopene formation. Before harvesting, ripening agents can be sprayed to promote earlier market availability. However, note that the agent should not be used too early, to avoid the occurrence of stiff fruit; the agent should not be too concentrated, to avoid yellowing leaves and symptoms of phytotoxicity; each plant should not have too many fruits treated for ripening, to avoid phytotoxicity to the plant; the solution must not be sprayed on the leaves, as it will cause the leaves to yellow and wither.

2. Improper fertilization

During the coloring stage of tomatoes, if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the chlorophyll in tomatoes will increase, delaying chlorophyll decomposition and affecting the formation of lycopene and carotene. In addition, nitrogen deficiency and potassium deficiency can lead to yellow fruit; boron deficiency can lead to green fruit.

Control method: In the later stage of tomato growth, control the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied. If the planting soil is deficient in nitrogen, a complete formula fertilizer can be used, but nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied alone. When the plant lacks certain elements, foliar spraying can be used to supplement what the plant needs.

3. Planting too densely

Tomato coloring is greatly related to light. If the planting density is too high, the leaves between plants will shade each other, so the fruit does not receive sufficient light, resulting in poor coloring and the phenomenon of green-shouldered fruit.

Control method: Control planting density and promote good field ventilation. In the later stage, prune branches and leaves to maintain good ventilation, so that the fruit has sufficient light conditions and coloring is promoted.

4. Other reasons

When the fruit lacks sufficient water, when too many fruits set cause insufficient nutrient supply or weakened root absorption capacity, or when the soil is compacted and salinized, all of these can lead to poor coloring in tomatoes.

Control method: During the fruit expansion period, water timely when there is drought, but note that it is not suitable to water too much at one time; keeping the soil moist is enough. When too many fruits have set, fruit thinning measures can be taken. When root absorption capacity weakens, foliar spraying can be used to maintain nutrients, and more organic fertilizer can be applied to improve soil structure, so as to prevent compaction and salinization.

The above is an introduction to the causes of poor color development in tomatoes and control methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.