Causes of fruit cracking in the era of climate change. A review

Abstract

The objective of this review was to report on advances in environmental, cultural, and physiological aspects of fleshy fruit cracking to reduce or avoid this disorder, which affects many fruit species. Cracking is a physiological disorder that limits the production and quality of fleshy fruits because it affects the exocarp and mesocarp, especially with climate change and variability. Fruit cracking is generated by external factors (agronomic and environmental) and internal factors, several of which require exhaustive study. The incidence of cracking varies widely according to climatic characteristics during fruit development, different fruit species and varieties, growth sites, and crop management. This physiological disorder is aggravated by increases in rain intensity, especially after a dry season or in areas with increased temperatures. Knowledge on causes of cracking has generated management strategies that involve genetic improvement, ecophysiological conditions, agronomic practices such as pruning, irrigation, and fertilization (mainly with Ca, Mg, B, and K), applications of plant growth regulators, and use of plastic covers, etc. For several fruit trees, these strategies are effective, but in species such as the cape gooseberry, cracking remains without a full explanation or effective management.