One of the main problems that are found with regard to forced crops is the appearance, during the growth stage, of a physiological disorder known as apical rotting, apical necrosis, peseta or “blossom end rot”.
This damage is caused by localized calcium deficiency in the distal tissues of the fruit.
The crops that tend to present symptoms of “blossom end rot” are tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and melons.
Calcium is involved in maintaining the completeness of cell membranes, given the fact that a deficiency could cause the loss of cell contents and the destruction of tissue structure.
This disorder may be recognised as a black area which is visible in the apical part of the fruit, and in crops which are sensitive, this may cause internal rotting to set in.
The most common cause of apical rotting is the combination of high temperature and humidity.
