Fruit
Deformed Fruit
Irregular fruit shape, uneven development
Overview
Deformed fruit refers to abnormally shaped fruit with uneven surfaces or conjoined twins. Main causes include: uneven pollination resulting in seeds on only one side of the fruit (seeds secrete growth hormones that stimulate flesh development — the seeded side expands, the seedless side does not), abnormal temperatures during flowering affecting pollination quality, and boron/calcium micronutrient deficiencies affecting fruit cell division.
Symptoms
Fruit is lopsided — one side bulges while the other side is flat or sunken. Some fruit shows a fused double (twin) deformity. The fruit surface has longitudinal wrinkles, sunken scars, or wart-like protrusions. Cut-open fruit shows seeds concentrated on one side, with the seedless area having noticeably thinner flesh.
Treatment
Promptly remove deformed fruit to reduce nutrient waste and redirect energy to normal fruit. Apply boron (borax 1000x dilution) and calcium (calcium chelate) sprays — once before flowering and once during early fruit development. Maintain stable temperatures (18-25°C) during flowering; both heat and cold affect pollination quality.
Prevention
Thoroughly hand-pollinate during flowering to ensure even pollen distribution across the stigma. Keep temperatures stable during flowering without extreme fluctuations. Begin boron and calcium supplementation before bud set. Choose varieties with stable genetic traits.
