What Is Wrong With My White Sapote?

Are there any irregularly-shaped brown corky areas on the peel surface that usually split?

Is the flesh of the fruit brown, soft, and foul-smelling; small maggots may be present?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

Brown, velvety, or corky surface lesions on fruits usually indicate a disease - Scab. This fungal disease spread during springtime when warmth and moisture promote last year's spores to discharge and fly. To prevent scab, destroy all dropped leaves before spring. Growing season applications of copper or sulfur sprays can help a lot in control of the disease. Pruning trees to encourage air circulation also helps.

The adult fruit flies lay their eggs just under the skin of semi-repine fruits. The maggots develop and feed inside the fruit, and fall out of the fruits to pupate in the soil when they mature. Control this pest by destroying all infested fruits as soon as you find them. Chemical sprays are most effective when combined with a protein bait to attract the insect.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by a black scale. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce the sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot. Several pathogens can be the cause of root rots. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants.