Soft Shoulder in Pepper Fruit

This problem with one variety was reported by a grower and to a fairly significant level where large amounts have to be culled.  It appears to be more common on thin fruit skin varieties.  The skin will sink with a little bit of pressure.  It is difficult to find one reason for this disorder, but general guidelines are:

• Focus on active climate early in the morning. It means that at night-time plants and fruits are subjected to lower moisture deficit due to high relative humidity.  As the sun rises the leaf temperature also rises.  If the relative humidity is not brought down so that the moisture deficit is above 3 grams/m3, then the supply of water to the fruit may be slowed down.
• Also try your best not to let the moisture deficit go above 7 grams/m3.  It can happen very easily under low relative humidity conditions and warm temperatures.  This means water could be lost very easily from the exposed fruit skin without being supplied from roots at the same time.
• In summer prune the plants in such a way that more leaves are allowed to develop and fruit is covered under those leaves. 

• Adjust irrigation practices to reduce root pressure especially the last watering. The practice of pre-night dipping should be carefully examined to see if it is contributing to soft shoulder.
• Make sure that the target fruit number is between 35 to 40/m2 at this time of year.
• Maintain 3:1 ratio for calcium to magnesium and sulphates in leach water are not going over 200 mg/L