What Are the Causes of Smaller Citrus Fruits?

Cultural Problems

• Maintaining proper hydration of the tree, especially during periods of drought, ensures that the tree is not water stressed. A lack of water deprives the fruit of necessary sustenance for the development of quality fruit. Conduct annual soil testing to ensure that the earth has the optimum pH level for the species of citrus tree being grown. If there is too much acidity or alkalinity in the soil, the tree is unable to uptake ideal levels of vital nutrients.

Environment

• Citrus trees, whether lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, tangerine or another species, thrive when grown in tropical or subtropical locales. Growing citrus fruit in areas on the fringe of the tree's ability to vigorously grow results in smaller fruits. All citrus trees are susceptible to freeze damage and experience stunted growth when temperatures drop close to freezing for an extended period.

Sooty Mold

• A number of diseases afflict citrus trees reducing the fruit's size. Sooty mold is a fungal growth that develops on an insect secretion called honeydew. Sooty mold reduces the tree's ability to conduct photosynthesis, the chemical process that coverts sunlight into energy for the citrus. This slows the fruit's growth and affects the skin coloring.

Other Problems

• Other diseases, such as Alternaria brown spot and citrus scab, along with many insects, damage the citrus tree to the extent that the size of fruit is reduced. Too much sun on the tree dries the peel and the pulp, stunting fruit growth. Premature fruit drying, also called granulation, occurs within larger citrus fruits, those that are late blooming or on newly planted, immature citrus trees. Drying the juice within the fruit results.