Despite their health benefits, apples can develop physiological illnesses and have their share of disease and pest problems, which many producers have encountered. Apple bitter pit sickness is among the more prevalent of them. may someone explain what apple bitter pit is and whether there is a remedy that may eradicate it?
Apple Bitter Pit Disease
It would be more accurate to speak to apple bitter pit sickness as a disorder rather than a disease. Apple bitter pit is not caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is a physiological ailment, as stated. The fruit’s deficiency in calcium is the cause of this condition. The apple tree’s leaves and bark may contain a lot of calcium, but the fruit may not. Apple bitterness is characterized by moderately wet sores on the apple’s skin that show through the skin as the condition progresses. Tissue death is indicated by brown, corky areas scattered throughout the flesh beneath the skin.
Although the lesions vary in size, they are typically around ¼ inch (6 mm) in diameter. It’s true that apples with bitter spot taste bitter. Bitter spot is more common in some apple cultivars than others. In addition to Spy apples, other types such as Delicious, Idared, Crispin, Cortland, and Honeycrisp may also be impacted under the right circumstances. Lenticels blotch pit or stink bug damage can be mistaken for apple bitter pit disease. However, the harm in the event of bitter pit disease is limited to the fruit’s calyx end or lower portion. Damage from stink bugs will be seen all over the apple.
How to Treat Apple Bitter Seeds
Understanding the disorder’s etiology is crucial for treating bitter pit. It may be a little challenging to identify this. As previously stated, the condition is caused by a deficiency of calcium in the fruit. A lack of calcium can be caused by several circumstances. Cultural customs to reduce the disturbance will lead to bitter pit control.
Biter pits may be seen during harvest, but they can also appear while the fruit is preserved, particularly if it has been held for a while. If you have a history of bitter pit, use your apples as quickly as possible because the disease occurs when apples are stored for long periods of time. The issue, “Are apples with bitter pit edible?” is raised by this. They won’t hurt you, even though they might be resentful. But chances are you won’t want to eat the apples if the sickness is noticeable and they taste bitter.
Apple Bitter Seeds Treatment Guide
Compared to apples taken during years with heavy crops, large apples from modest yields are typically more susceptible to bitter pit.
Apply a calcium spray to prevent bitter pit because fruit thinning produces larger fruit, which is frequently a desired thing. Bitter pits appear to be associated with both excessive nitrogen or potassium and changing soil moisture; mulch the tree with a low-nitrogen substance to help retain moisture. Because heavy dormant season pruning raises nitrogen levels, it promotes shoot growth. Bitter pit condition may arise from conflict between fruit and shoots for calcium caused by excessive shoot growth. Reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to the apple tree if you want to prune it severely, or even better, prune it sparingly every year.
