Blossom Rot on Zucchini Squash

Disease

• Blossom rot (Choanephora cucurbitarum) is a culturally induced disease caused by poor growing practices. Blossom rot is also referred to as wet rot. Blossom rot infects both the flowers and vegetables on infected plants.

Symptoms

• Blossom rot is characterized by the appearance of small, light brown lesions on the blossom end of young, growing zucchini. As the disease progresses, the spots enlarge into leathery, sunken lesions with hard brown areas inside the vegetables.

Management

• Low amounts of calcium and insufficient water content in the fruit are the common causes of blossom rot. Growing vegetables in excessively alkaline or high salt soils is also a frequent cause. Keep soil consistently moist and apply recommended rates of fertilizers.