Cultural & Environmental Problems - Vegetables

Diagnosing a plant problem when there are no apparent biotic (disease pathogen or pest) causes can present a real challenge. An abiotic plant problem is not caused by any disease organisms or insects. An accurate diagnosis, whether biotic or abiotic, involves both science, (botany, entomology, and pathology) and art (strategy, investigation, and decision making). Abiotic problems can be very difficult to diagnose because they include site conditions, weather, and cultural practices. Below are some common abiotic or environmental problems of vegetables. Click on a title for more information.

A large percentage of plant problems are primarily caused by abiotic factors. Symptoms can mimic disease and insect problems, leading homeowners to the wrong conclusion about the cause of the problem.

Air pollution	Blossom end rot	Bumps on roots and stems	Catfacing
Cracking	Flower stalks form (bolting)	Fertilizer or pesticide burn	Fruits not true to type
Green shoulders	Herbicide damage	Internal discoloration	Leaf curl
Low yields-undersize fruits	Nutrient deficiency	Off flavor/Poor eating quality	Plant falls over/Branches broken
Pollination Problems	Poor blossom and fruit set	Purple leaves	Root crops - Deformed
Small blisters or pustules (edema)	Sunscald	Tipburn	Uneven ripening
Varietal characteristics	Wilting - Drought or waterlogged soil	Whitened leaves	Yellowing leaves
Zippering