Most of the problems suffered by a crop are usually attributed to pests or diseases . However, it is common to observe problems that have nothing to do with biotic causes (living beings), but rather due to environmental and water effects, etc. Today we are going to comment on some of the problems, known as physiopathies, in melon cultivation .

BRINDLE OF FRUITS

In melon, it is much more common for these cracks to occur longitudinally rather than transversely (following the lines that melon usually marks).

This cracking is not usually attributed to the activity of pests or diseases, but to changes related to environmental humidity or in the soil. That is, in part because of the risks we carry out (in excess or in defect).

As we already talked about in the article on electrical conductivity , the amount of fertilizers that we add to the irrigation water limits or increases the growth of the plant (depending on the salts), and is closely related to the osmotic potential.

The cracking of fruits in the melon is also usually attributed to a drop in conductivity that occurs in the final moments of ripening. That is, when it is watered only with water and fertilization is completely abandoned (contribution of salts). The low conductivity and the roots of the melon encounter fewer obstacles when it comes to capturing nutrients from the soil and water. This results in a growth in the size of the fruit above the resistance of the bark , causing the cracking of the fruit.

MELON FRUIT FRINGED

It is known as devastated to the burn that occurs on the fruit when the sun’s rays affect it directly, causing spots, usually whitish, that reduce the useful life of the fruit and its quality.

Vegetable coverage of the fruits with the leaves themselves and the cultivation of the melon carried out in its usual calendar are tools to reduce this typical physiopathy to the maximum .

SPOTS ON FRUITS

The lighter the melon (such as galia or yellow melon), the better this physiopathy caused by a humidity imbalance in the environment will be perceived .

If we are in a stage with high relative humidity and excess watering, the plant cells in the fruit are saturated with water, which is why they often burst, causing spots (when suberized) and observable rots in the bark.

DEFORMED FRUITS

Most likely, deformed fruits, not only in melon but also in other crops, is caused by poor pollination.

There are times where the deformation is also produced by water or environmental stress, as in cucumber, a crop that is very sensitive to changes in humidity).

In the specific case of melon, most of the time it is related to poor quality pollen, often caused by environmental dryness, low activity of pollinating organisms, etc.

It is advisable to remove this type of deformed fruit from the plant, as it will reduce the vigor of the plant.

PLANT COLLAPSE

It will not be the first time where a large melon growing area begins to mysteriously dry out and lose all its fruits. This is known as plant collapse and is related to root suffocation, the appearance of diseases ( Fusarium, Acremonium, etc.).

It is a matter of uprooting an affected plant and observing a reduced root size, insufficient to feed all the fruits of the plant that are slowly getting fatter.