What is a bitter pit?

Bitter Pit is a physiological disease of apples that causes fruit deeply necrotic tissue. Although they are still technically edible, apples with a bitter pit are unsightly and not very tasty, so it can be difficult or impossible to sell on the market, which potentially represents a catastrophic loss for growers. This condition has been studied since the 18th century and it has been shown to be difficult to understand or erad, a lot of frustration of many orchards. The bitter pit begins out of the inside, usually first with the core of the apple, because the tissue slowly brown, dear and rotten and the outer side of the fruit develops significant sinking spots with dead tissue under it.

The cause of the bitter pit is not completely understood. It is assumed that it is associated with a lack of calcium and many apple growers use calcium sprays to reduce the occurrence of a bitter pit. However, it was known that apples from trees with sufficient calcium supplies also evolve with a bitter pit, so it is clearly influenced by a number of factors. Varieties like Baldwins, DeliCrous and Gravansteins are among the most prone to a bitter pit.

Water supply to the tree can also have something to do with a bitter pit. If the tree is experiencing extremely hot and dry weather in the summer months, the fruit seems to be more likely to be sick. As a result, the agricultural associations strongly recommend watering routine and hard in hot weather and watch the level of humidity in the soil, although the weather is not hot. It is also recommended to thin the crop to support the development of healthier fruit; Better to have a slight crop really good apples than a bumper crop of poor fruit.

Bitter Pit is also considered to be associated with the treatment that the apple tree receives while sleeping. Traditionally, the trees are cut and fertilized during the sleeping period to support healthy, even growth in spring. Through pruning and excessive nitrogen applications can cause bitter bit as well as excessive trees,When the fruit starts in the fall. In addition, tree damage can also contribute to the development of a bitter pit, probably because such damage disrupts the tree's ability to distribute nutrients to fruit.