Calcium deficiency-Melons

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency (water melon). The vast majority of calcium is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency. Melon is particularly sensitive to calcium deficiency. The vast majority of Ca is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency. Melon is particularly sensitive to calcium deficiency. The vast majority of Ca is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency. Melon is particularly sensitive to calcium deficiency. The vast majority of Ca is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency. Melon is particularly sensitive to calcium deficiency. The vast majority of Ca is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.

Symptoms
Leaves may take on a shell-like appearance with stunted, poorly developed veins. Starting from the leaf margin, a chlorosis spreads over the leaf blade. Older leaves look rather mottled, while the younger, more severely affected ones become yellow with green veins. Growing points and roots die off. Stems can crack due to the low cell strength. Flower buds might be dropped. Crops suffer from Blossom End Rot (BER) and hollow heart. Fruits split and can also take on a glassy appearance with the internal flesh turning brown and breaking down to become watery. Problems may not be seen until after harvest, during transport or on the shelves. Deficiencies in the fruit can occur without the expression of any visible symptoms on the leaves.

Reasons
Calcium deficiency. Melon is particularly sensitive to calcium deficiency. The vast majority of Ca is held within the leaf and stems, so high rates are needed to provide the relatively low amounts found in the fruit that influence quality. Cracking of melon fruit can also be caused by unsteady water supply, inadequate potassium uptake or generally inbalanced nutrition. Especially calcium and boron need to be balanced with adequate supplies to prevent cracking.