Drought Stress of Cucurbit Crops
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Drought stress - Cucurbits are particularly sensitive to drought. Fruit are typically 85% to 90% water and can suffer under drought conditions. Severe drought stress affects fruit development, resulting in unmarketable produce. Affected cucumber fruit may appear curled, distorted, or tapered at the blossom end; pumpkins become soft and wrinkled. Drought-stressed pumpkins fail to gain appropriate size, which affects yields. A loss of foliage during drought will also result in sunburn of the fruit.
Drought symptoms on pumpkin.
(Photo: Timothy Coolong, University of Kentucky)
Drought/sunburn symptoms on pumpkin.
(Photo: Timothy Coolong, University of Kentucky)
Management:
- Irrigate when necessary.
