About the russetting of apples in 2018

Abstract

Fruit russetting of apples originates from injuries of the fruit epidermis and the subsequent suberification of the damaged tissue. Fruit russetting can be caused by a variety of factors and their complex interactions. Whereas some forms of fruit russetting, such as frost rings, can be unequivocally attributed to frost events, diffuse russett may be caused by a variety of factors and can therefore not be attributed to specific climatic events. Also in the case of the widespread fruit russetting observed in the apple growing area of South Tyrol in 2018 with its prevalently diffuse appearance it is therefore not possible to unequivocally determine the precise cause of the damage.