Causes of Flower and Fruit Drop in Greenhouse Peppers and Control Measures
Release Date:
2019-02-15
Causes of flower and fruit drop in greenhouse peppers: 1. Nutritional deficiency: Poor cultivation and management practices, such as excessive planting density or overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer, can lead to this issue. Excessive nitrogen promotes a shift from reproductive to vegetative growth, resulting in inadequate nutrition for flowers and fruits and making them prone to dropping. 2. Environmental conditions: In winter and spring, insufficient light and low temperatures (below 15°C) within greenhouses can hinder pollination; even when pollination occurs, fruit development is poor and fruits are easily shed, a problem that becomes more pronounced during cloudy and rainy weather. In late spring, early summer, and early autumn, high temperatures exceeding 35°C often occur inside greenhouses, which may cause incomplete floral organ development or drying of the stigma, preventing successful pollination and leading to flower drop.
Causes of Flower and Fruit Drop in Greenhouse Peppers
1. Malnutrition can result from unfavorable cultivation and management practices, such as excessive planting density or overapplication of nitrogen fertilizer. Excessive nitrogen application may shift pepper plants from reproductive to vegetative growth, leading to inadequate nutrient supply to flowers and fruits and increasing fruit drop.
2. Influence of environmental conditions. During the winter and spring, insufficient light and low temperatures (below 15°C) in greenhouses can impair pepper pollination; even when pollination does occur, fruit development is poor and fruits tend to drop, a problem that becomes more pronounced during overcast or rainy weather. In late spring, early summer, and early autumn, high temperatures exceeding 35°C often prevail inside greenhouses, leading to incomplete floral organ development or withering of the stigma, preventing pollination and resulting in flower drop. Poor ventilation and excessive humidity within the greenhouse further hinder normal pollen release, making successful pollination and fertilization difficult and causing flower and fruit drop. Peppers are sensitive to waterlogging; even a few hours of standing water in the field can suffocate the root system, cause yellowing and shedding of leaves, and lead to flower and fruit drop; in severe cases, the entire plant may die.
3. Pest and disease damage. After peppers are infected with viral diseases, anthracnose, or leaf blight, they are also prone to flower and fruit drop. The tobacco cutworm and cotton bollworm, by boring into the fruits, can likewise cause fruit drop.
What should I do about flower and fruit drop in greenhouse peppers?
To prevent flower and fruit drop, begin with enhanced cultivation management—primarily by raising robust seedlings, transplanting at the appropriate time, planting at an optimal density, and applying fertilizer scientifically. After transplanting, ensure adequate ventilation to reduce humidity; maintain daytime temperatures inside the greenhouse at 25–28°C and nighttime temperatures at 15–18°C, with a minimum of 15°C during the flowering stage. Under‑film irrigation is recommended; avoid flood irrigation. Through sound cultural practices, enhance the plants’ stress tolerance and pay close attention to disease and pest control. In addition to these measures, spray or dip flowers with 40–50 ppm tomato‑specific growth regulator or 50 ppm naphthaleneacetic acid, or apply 20–30 ppm 2,4‑D to the flower pedicels.
In fact, there are many reasons why greenhouse peppers experience flower and fruit drop; however, when taken together, factors such as nutrient deficiencies, unfavorable environmental conditions, and pest and disease damage can all adversely affect pepper growth.
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