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Storage Problems

Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium spp., and others; abiotic disorders (bitter pit...

12 host plants

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Data Coverage 3 of 6 dimensions
Causal Agent
Host Plants
Symptoms
Management
GDD Threshold
Regional Notes

You may encounter bitter pit, Jonathan spot, lenticel breakdown, scald, or other physiological disorders on stored apples. These develop from calcium deficiency, improper storage temperature, or sanitizer exposure. Harvest at proper maturity, cool quickly, and use calcium applications in the orchard. Monitor sodium hypochlorite concentration in flume water. Most disorders are preventable with good packing-house management.

Harvesting apples at the proper stage of maturity is critical to reduce the impact of many disorders. Quick cooling and low storage temperatures help manage some of these.

Quick Reference

Causal Agent
Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium spp., and others; abiotic disorders (bitter pit...
Host Plants
12

Management

Cultural Controls

  • Harvesting apples at the proper stage of maturity is critical to reduce the impact of many disorders.
  • Quick cooling and low storage temperatures help manage some of these.
  • Controlled atmospheres can help manage Jonathan spot and scald but should be set carefully in a way not to exacerbate other potential disorders.
  • Conditioning stored apples at slightly warmer temperatures can help detect scalded fruit which are culled before shipping.
  • Several calcium applications in the orchard are more effective in preventing bitter pit than drenching fruit after harvest with a calcium solution.
  • The concentration of sodium hypochlorite in flume-tank water should be monitored continuously and water replaced very frequently.

Host Plants (12)