Physiological Disorders in Vegetables
General Vegetable Disorders
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Internal Brown Spot |
Moisture deficiency |
|
Greening |
Excessive sun exposure |
|
Black Heart |
Poor ventilation |
|
Hollow Heart |
Excessive nitrogen |
|
Chilling Injury |
Low temperature |
|
Freezing Injury |
Very low temperature |
Tomato Physiological Disorders
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Cracking |
Irregular watering, temperature fluctuation |
|
Blotchy Ripening |
Potassium deficiency |
|
Puffiness / Pocket |
Poor fertilization; low/high temp |
|
Blossom End Rot |
Calcium deficiency + high temp + irregular watering |
|
Sunscald |
Excess sun exposure |
|
Cat Face |
Abnormal conditions during early growth |
|
Golden Flake |
Ca-oxalate excess or K:Ca imbalance |
|
Radial Cracking |
Temperature fluctuation, humidity, excess nitrogen |
Cauliflower Disorders
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Riceyness |
High temp during curd formation |
|
Fuzziness |
High temperature |
|
Blindness |
Frost or very low temperature |
|
Leafyness |
Sowing early variety in late season |
|
Buttoning |
Nitrogen deficiency |
|
Hollow Stem |
Excess nitrogen |
|
Whiptail |
Molybdenum deficiency |
|
Chlorosis |
Magnesium deficiency |
|
Browning / Red Rot |
Boron deficiency |
Carrot Disorders
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Splitting |
Boron deficiency |
|
Cavity Spot |
Calcium deficiency + soil moisture change |
|
Bitterness |
Excess ethylene |
|
Forking |
Hard soil pan |
|
Pithiness |
Aging and moisture imbalance |
Beetroot & Radish Disorders
|
Crop |
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Beetroot |
Brown Heart / Crown Rot |
Boron deficiency |
|
Radish |
Akashin |
Boron deficiency |
Watermelon Disorders
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Blossom End Rot |
High temp + Ca deficiency + irregular moisture |
|
White Heart |
Poor quality; physiological (low sugar or oxygen imbalance) |
|
Bud Necrosis |
Virus disorder; spread by aphids |
Other Vegetable Disorders
Sweet Potato; Growth Cracks – Due to moisture imbalance
Celery
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Black Heart |
Calcium deficiency |
|
Cracked Stem |
Boron deficiency |
|
Pencil Striping |
Excess phosphorus |
French Bean
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Blossom Drop |
High temperature |
|
Hypocotyl Cracking |
Calcium deficiency |
Garlic
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Bulb Sprouting |
Excess nitrogen + high soil moisture |
|
Splitting |
Delay in harvesting |
Lettuce
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Tip Burn |
Calcium deficiency + climate stress |
|
Rosette Spotting |
Ethylene injury |
Chilli
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Blossom End Rot |
Nitrogen excess + water stress |
|
Frog Eye Rot |
Calcium deficiency |
Cucumber
|
Disorder |
Cause |
|
Pillow |
Calcium deficiency |
Competitive Exam Notes:
- Blossom End Rot: Common in tomato, chilli, and watermelon → Ca deficiency
- Buttoning in Cauliflower: Caused by nitrogen deficiency
- Whiptail in Cauliflower: Molybdenum deficiency
- Tip Burn: Common in leafy vegetables → Calcium deficiency
- Pithiness: Occurs in carrot and radish due to aging/moisture stress
- Cat Face in Tomato: Caused by abnormal floral development
- White Heart in Watermelon: Quality disorder, not a disease
- Bud Necrosis in Watermelon: Virus, aphid-borne
Tips to Prevent Physiological Disorders:
- Maintain balanced nutrient supply (especially Ca, B, Mo)
- Avoid excessive nitrogen
- Ensure regular irrigation
- Avoid sowing early-maturing varieties in late season
- Use disease-free, certified seeds
- Protect crops from frost and high temperature fluctuations
