Sunburn is a common issue in pepper crops, affecting fruit quality and marketability. High temperatures and direct sunlight exposure can lead to significant damage, especially in mature fruit. Understanding the symptoms, causes, and prevention strategies can help growers protect their crops and maintain yield quality.
Symptoms:
- Affected fruit develop soft, lighter necrotic tissue, which may become sunken and wrinkled over time.
- In older fruit, symptoms may appear papery in texture.
- Damage typically occurs on the side or upper half of the fruit that is exposed to direct sunlight, especially in temperatures above 35°C.
- Sunburned areas can become infected by secondary pathogens, leading to black lesions on the fruit.
Causes:
- Direct sunlight exposure on developing fruit is the primary cause.
- Mature fruit are more susceptible to sunburn than younger fruit.
- Poor foliage cover increases the risk, as leaves naturally shield the fruit from excessive sunlight.
- Improper harvesting practices, such as breaking stems, can expose remaining green fruit to direct sunlight, increasing the likelihood of sunburn.
- Defoliation caused by diseases such as powdery mildew can also contribute to increased fruit exposure and damage.
 Prevention and management:
- Maintain good foliage cover to naturally protect fruit from sun exposure.
- Take care during harvesting to avoid damaging plants or breaking stems, which could leave fruit exposed.
- Implement a strong disease management program, particularly against defoliating diseases like powdery mildew, to ensure adequate leaf cover throughout the season.
By following these practices, growers can minimise the impact of sunburn and protect the quality of their pepper harvests.
Disclaimer
This information is based on observations and sources believed to be reliable. However, crop performance depends on the interaction of genetic potential, seed characteristics, and environmental factors, including management practices. Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd provides no express or implied warranty for crop performance based on this information and accepts no liability for losses resulting from its use. Please refer to Sakata Seed Southern Africa’s Conditions of Sale before ordering seed.