Brussel Sprouts - Necrosis
Symptoms
The most obvious symptom of calcium deficiency is "internal tip-burn", which means necrotic lesions on inner leaf tips and margins. Necrosis progresses from tips and margins inwards.
Ca deficiency affects younger leaves. The sprout on the photo shows symptoms of temporarily deficiency because the inner leaves are healthy.
Causes
Temporarily calcium deficiency in brussels sprouts
Calcium deficiency made worse by
- Acidic soils
- Sandy or light soils (leaching)
- Acid peat soils
- Soils rich in sodium
- Soils rich in aluminium
- Drought conditions
- Fruit high in nitrogen or potassium
- Large fruit
Calcium is important for
- Good root development
- Key role for crop quality
- Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress
- Improved storage quality and shelf life
