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CITRUS OLEOCELLOSIS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, PREVENTION
Agronomic Activity and Field Experiences, Research and Phytoiatry, Agricultural Culture
23-09-2024 17:22
Oleocellosis is a dermatosis of fruits particularly common in citrus fruits, caused by the rupture of the oil glands and the consequent leakage of essential oils. These oils, due to their caustic action linked to the presence of terpenes in them, cause burns and necrosis in the cells of the epidermal portion of the fruit. The symptoms then manifest themselves as yellow or brown spots, of different shapes and sizes, which can evolve into more or less extensive brown areas surrounded by a yellowish halo. In the case of fruits that are subjected to degreening, the affected areas remain green as the damage prevents the conversion of chloroplasts into chromoplasts.
Agronomic Activity and Field Experiences, Research and Phytoiatry, Agricultural Culture
23-09-2024 17:22
Oleocellosis is a dermatosis of fruits particularly common in citrus fruits, caused by the rupture of the oil glands and the consequent leakage of essential oils. These oils, due to their caustic action linked to the presence of terpenes in them, cause burns and necrosis in the cells of the epidermal portion of the fruit. The symptoms then manifest themselves as yellow or brown spots, of different shapes and sizes, which can evolve into more or less extensive brown areas surrounded by a yellowish halo. In the case of fruits that are subjected to degreening, the affected areas remain green as the damage prevents the conversion of chloroplasts into chromoplasts.
The underlying causes of the phenomenon can be traced back to environmental traumatic events such as hail and wind, which favor the rubbing of the fruits, or even to stings by specific pests, etc., but it is mainly the manipulations during harvesting and processing in the warehouse that contribute to the triggering of physiopathy on susceptible fruits. The latter are particularly prone when they are collected or stored in a state of high cellular turgor of the tissues, since the rupture of the glands occurs more easily. Even slight or modest mechanical damage can cause extensive oleocellosis, especially if in conditions of high turgescence of the fruit. Fruits affected by oleocellosis are depreciated due to the aesthetic damage to the flavedo and their high susceptibility to various rots during operations following harvesting and distribution. The prevention of physiopathy is not easy, due to the speed of harvesting and conditioning operations, which amplify the risk of mechanical damage, although some precautions can mitigate its incidence in some steps of final production:
- Choose the right time for harvesting, avoiding the early hours of the morning (a moment of maximum turgidity) or when the fruits are particularly wet, i.e. more exposed to accidental damage.
- Use suitable equipment, handling the fruits with care, using suitable scissors, soft gloves and containers with bevelled corners, in order to limit occasional wounds and lacerations on the fruits. In very susceptible fruits, such as lemons, the use of special equipment (Pressure Tester) is recommended, capable of measuring the turgor status of the epicarp, allowing you to better assess the right time for harvesting.
- Storage conditions. Keep the harvested fruits in environments with controlled temperatures and humidity, especially if they are stored in special cells.
- Phytosanitary treatments and adequate fertilization. Use phytosanitary protocols in mixtures that do not cause phytotoxicity. Rational administration of N (Nitrogen) in mineral nutrition, avoiding excesses, can help reduce the incidence of physiopathy.
CROPS IN TRANSPLANT CRISIS: TECHNIQUES AND TIPS TO OPTIMIZE SEEDLING ROOTING
Agronomic Activity and Field Experiences, Research and Phytoiatry, Agricultural Culture
16-09-2024 16:51
To achieve successful crops, it is essential to develop a robust root system and a harmonious organography of the plants. This process begins already in the preparation phases, especially during the pre- and post-transplantation of seedlings, in the greenhouse.
Agronomic Activity and Field Experiences, Research and Phytoiatry, Agricultural Culture
16-09-2024 16:51
To achieve successful crops, it is essential to develop a robust root system and a harmonious organography of the plants. This process begins already in the preparation phases, especially during the pre- and post-transplantation of seedlings, in the greenhouse.
