Pre harvest fruit drop occurs before harvesting due to factors like hormonal imbalance, pests or weather stress, leading to yield loss. Post-harvest fruit drop happens after harvesting during handling or storage, often due to poor conditions or mechanical damage, affecting fruit quality and shelf life.
The drop of fruit before and after harvesting is a common problem. There are three main drop periods for fruit trees: "flower drop," "small fruit drop," and "June drop." These drops usually happen when the fruit stalk (pedicel) separates from the branch or fruit. The leading causes are poor pollination, failure to fertilise, or lack of proper nutrition. The process of fruit drop, called abscission, is regulated by natural growth hormones and can be influenced by external plant growth regulators.
Causes of Post-Harvest Berry/Fruit Drop:
1. Physiological Factors:
- Weak Abscission Zone: Ageing or stress creates a weak layer at the pedicel-berry junction.
- Water Loss: Drying out weakens berries, making them more likely to drop.
2. Pre-Harvest Factors:
- Varietal Susceptibility: Certain grape varieties, such as Crimson Seedless and Red Globe, are more prone to dropping.
- Cultural Practices: Over-watering, too much nitrogen, and poor canopy management can weaken attachment.
- Late Harvesting: Overripe grapes have weaker attachments.
3. Post-Harvest Factors
- Mechanical Damage: Rough handling can dislodge berries.
- Temperature & Humidity Changes: Fluctuations can affect berry attachment.
-Ethylene Exposure: Certain fruits are sensitive to ethylene gas, which can cause them to drop prematurely.
Sweet orange varieties prone to fruit drop- Nagpur Santra, Jaffa, Blood Red Malta and Sathgudi
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