Sun Burn

• This physiological disorder occurs due to intense heat of the sun.
• Fruit on the southwest side of the tree is generally affected.
• Water stress can also increase the incidence of sunburn.

Symptoms

• Initial symptoms are white, tan or yellow patches on the fruits exposed to the sun.
• With severe skin damage, injured areas of the fruit can turn dark brown before harvest.
• These areas may become spongy and sunken.
• Fruit exposed to the sun after harvest can develop severe sunburn.

Control

• The best method of control is to avoid sudden exposure of fruit to intense heat and solar radiation.
• Proper tree training and pruning are critical.
• Summer pruning must be carefully done to avoid excessive sunburn.
• Pruned orchards should be regularly irrigated to reduce heat stress.
• Careful sorting to remove affected fruit upon packing is the only solution once the injury has occurred.