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The sun burn and fruit cracking in litchi were high in 2019 (10.5% and 10.1%) when temperature was high with low rainfall during fruit growth while low in 2017 (1.9% and 3.7%) when temperature was low. Lack of soil moisture and high temperature reduced the fruit weight in Kasba cultivar by (26.2%) and rainfall induced cracking in the cultivars Bedana and Early Bedana. The cultivars having higher relative water content and cuticle thickness reflected in low fruit cracking and vice-versa. These results may be helpful to identify suitable cultivars for preventive measures to reduce sun burn and fruit cracking in litchi.

To explore the fruit-cracking mechanism in nectarine, we compared three cracking-susceptible nectarine varieties (‘Huaguang’, ‘Yanguang’, and ‘Zaohongzhu’) and one cracking-resistant nectarine variety (‘Shuguang’). Our findings indicate that ‘Shuguang’ nectarines exhibited significantly higher levels of calcium, calcium pectinate, total pectin, cellulose, Na 2 CO 3 -soluble pectin and CDTA-soluble pectin in the peel compared to ‘Huaguang’, ‘Yanguang’, and ‘Zaohongzhu’. In contrast, the activities of polygalacturonases, pectinesterases, β-galactosidases, and cellulase were significantly lower in ‘Shuguang’. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellic acid content between ‘Shuguang’ and the other three cracking-susceptible nectarine varieties. However, the abscisic acid content in ‘Shuguang’ was significantly lower. Additionally, compared with the three cracking-susceptible nectarine varieties, the expression level of PpPIP1 (encoding the plasma membrane intrinsic protein, which can improve the permeability of plant cell membranes and greatly improve the efficiency of water diffusion across membranes) in flesh was significantly lower, and the expression levels of PpExp1 and PpExp2 (encoding expansins, which play significant roles in loosening and expanding cell wall components) were significantly higher in the peels of cracking-resistant nectarine varieties. These differences can provide a basis for further study of the mechanism of nectarine fruit-cracking.

To study possibility of protection of sweet cherry fruit against cracking several rows of ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry ( L.) trees grafted on ‘Colt’ rootstock, spaced 5 × 2.5 m and trained to a central leader were covered with a plastic foil to a height of 5 m. Several rows were left uncovered as a control. In the years 2016 and 2018, sun irradiation, air temperature and fruit quality were evaluated. The plastic cover reduced solar irradiation under the tunnel roof by around 40%. Light distribution within tree canopies was depleted by roughly 50%, but in the lower parts of the tree canopies, it was reduced to 6%, which is below the critical level (20%) estimated for apple trees. These results indicate the necessity to remove the covers as soon as possible after harvesting. Mean daily temperature near the ground was lower under the covers than outside, but at the height of 4.0 m, daily mean temperature was 0.4 °C higher and mean temperature during midday hours was 1.5 °C higher. The plastic covering reduced the fruit cracking from about 20% to 2% in both seasons but did not affect the fruit yield. The plastic covering did not affect the firmness and antioxidant activity and total anthocyanin content, but in the year 2018, it reduced the mean fruit weight, soluble solid, titratable acidity, dry matter and total polyphenols content.

Yield of tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum ) grown in high tunnels in Wanatah, IN, USA, was evaluated using two plant support systems: stake-and-weave or vertical-string. With stake-and-weave, plants were not pruned; stakes were placed every two plants and string was woven horizontally along either side of the plants along the row. With vertical-string, indeterminate cultivars Big Beef and Cherokee Purple were pruned to two stems and each stem was clipped to a vertical string. For the determinate cultivar Mountain Fresh, all branches below the first main stem flower cluster except one were removed and the main stem and major branches were clipped to vertical strings. Yield of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) no. 1 and no. 2 fruit was significantly higher for all cultivars with stake-and-weave than with vertical-string: Big Beef averaged 20.6 and 8.7 lb/plant, Cherokee Purple averaged 8.7 and 2.4 lb/plant, and Mountain Fresh averaged 20.1 and 16.9 lb/plant for stake-and-weave and vertical-string, respectively. The percentage of yield that was culled was less with stake-and-weave than with vertical-string for cultivars Big Beef and Cherokee Purple, but not for Mountain Fresh. Yield of USDA no. 1 and no. 2 fruit over the first 3 weeks of harvest was higher for stake-and-weave by 20% for cultivar Big Beef, and it showed no significant difference for cultivars Cherokee Purple or Mountain Fresh. In this system, when tomatoes were harvested for a period of 8 to 10 weeks, the stake-and-weave system produced more marketable yield than pruning to two or several stems and clipping each stem to a vertical string.

One of the main disorders that widely limit fruit quality and quantity is fruit cracking or splitting that is observed on the fruit skin and flesh in the preharvest phase. Besides, cracking can occur during postharvest in some fruits, mostly attributable to the environmental conditions of storage. Value of cracked fruits is reduced and these fruits are not marketable because of the poor fruit quality. Many fruits such as apple, sweet cherry, grape, plum, pomegranate, grape, persimmon, litchi, avocado, pistachio, citrus, banana as well as tomato can crack or split. There are many factors that influence fruit cracking. In this work, genetic, morphological, environmental and physiological aspects of fruit cracking are reviewed. Under the same environmental conditions, fruits from different cultivars show differences in cracking susceptibility. Some correlations have been observed between susceptibility of fruit cracking and some fruit traits (fruit shape, fruit size, fruit firmness; anatomy and strength of the fruit skin, stomata in fruit skin, cuticular properties, osmotic concentration, water capacity of the fruit pulp and growth stage of the fruit). Also, orchard management (such as irrigation and nutrition) and environmental condition (such as temperature, wind and light) can influence fruit cracking. Besides, fruit cracking is quantitative trait and is controlled by several genes. The best way to reduce fruit cracking at present would be a suitable orchard management that takes into account and try to minimize stress of the water, nutrition and physiological factors that contribute to fruit cracking. Also, the most resistant cultivars to fruit cracking that have desirable fruit quality can be selected for cultivation.

Several fleshy fruits are highly affected by cracking, a severe physiological disorder that compromises their quality and causes high economical losses to the producers. Cracking can occur due to physiological, genetic or environmental factors and may happen during fruit growth, development and ripening. Moreover, in fleshy fruits, exocarp plays an important role, acting as a mechanical protective barrier, defending against biotic or abiotic factors. Thus, when biochemical properties of the cuticle + epidermis + hypodermis are affected, cracks appear in the fruit skin. The identification of genes involved in development such as cell wall modifications, biosynthesis and transport of cuticular waxes, cuticular membrane deposition and associated transcription factors provides new insights to better understand how fruit cracking is affected by genetic factors. Amongst the major environmental stresses causing cracking are excessive water during fruit development, leading to imbalances in cations such as Ca. This review focus on expression of key genes in these pathways, in their influence in affected fruits and the potential for molecular breeding programs, aiming to develop cultivars more resistant to cracking under adverse environmental conditions.

Background Fruit cracking occurs easily under unsuitable environmental conditions and is one of the main types of damage that occurs in fruit production. It is widely accepted that plants have developed defence mechanisms and regulatory networks that respond to abiotic stress, which involves perceiving, integrating and responding to stress signals by modulating the expression of related genes. Fruit cracking is also a physiological disease caused by abiotic stress. It has been reported that a single or several genes may regulate fruit cracking. However, almost none of these reports have involved cracking regulatory networks. Results Here, RNA expression in 0 h, 8 h and 30 h saturated irrigation-treated fruits from two contrasting tomato genotypes, ‘LA1698’ (cracking-resistant, CR) and ‘LA2683’ (cracking-susceptible, CS), was analysed by mRNA and lncRNA sequencing. The GO pathways of the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly enriched in the ‘hormone metabolic process’, ‘cell wall organization’, ‘oxidoreductase activity’ and ‘catalytic activity’ categories. According to the gene expression analysis, significantly differentially expressed genes included Solyc02g080530.3 ( Peroxide, POD ), Solyc01g008710.3 ( Mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidase, MAN ), Solyc08g077910.3 ( Expanded, EXP ), Solyc09g075330.3 ( Pectinesterase, PE ), Solyc07g055990.3 ( Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase-hydrolase 7, XTH7 ), Solyc12g011030.2 ( Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase-hydrolase 9, XTH9 ), Solyc10g080210.2 ( Polygalacturonase-2, PG2 ), Solyc08g081010.2 ( Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, gamma-GCS ), Solyc09g008720.2 ( Ethylene receptor, ER ), Solyc11g042560.2 ( Ethylene-responsive transcription factor 4, ERF4 ) etc. In addition, the lncRNAs (XLOC_16662 and XLOC_033910, etc) regulated the expression of their neighbouring genes, and genes related to tomato cracking were selected to construct a lncRNA-mRNA network influencing tomato cracking. Conclusions This study provides insight into the responsive network for water-induced cracking in tomato fruit. Specifically, lncRNAs regulate the hormone-redox-cell wall network, including plant hormone (auxin, ethylene) and ROS (H 2 O 2 ) signal transduction and many cell wall-related mRNAs ( EXP, PG, XTH ), as well as some lncRNAs (XLOC_16662 and XLOC_033910, etc.).

Pre-harvest fruit bagging is recognized as an eco-safe strategy to improve fruit quality and reduce biotic and abiotic stresses in high-value horticultural crops. However, its effectiveness in litchi ( Sonn.) across diverse agro-climatic regions remains insufficiently documented. This study evaluated the impact of bagging materials and application timing on fruit damage, yield, and quality in litchi under multi-location conditions in India. Field experiments were conducted across nine major litchi-growing regions over four consecutive seasons (2020-2023). Seven treatments were tested in a factorial randomized block design, including white and pink non-woven polypropylene bags applied at 15, 25, and 30 days after fruit set (DAFS), along with an unbagged control. Data on fruit cracking, sunburn, borer infestation, yield, fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS), anthocyanin content, and acidity were recorded. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, hierarchical clustering, and principal component analysis (PCA). Bagging significantly reduced fruit cracking, sunburn, and borer infestation, with significant location × treatment interactions (P ≤ 0.05). Compared with the control, cracking and sunburn were reduced to ≤4-6% and ≤5-8%, respectively, while borer infestation remained below 3% in most locations. Yield increased by 10-35%, particularly when bagging was applied at 25-30 DAFS. Bagged fruits showed higher fruit weight, TSS, and anthocyanin content while maintaining desirable acidity. Pre-harvest bagging is a robust and location-resilient practice that enhances litchi yield and marketable quality across diverse environments, supporting its adoption as a sustainable production strategy.

Fruit cracking and quality were key factors in the economic profitability of muskmelon. Silicon (Si) can improve fruit quality and reduce cracking, but its effects on melon crops remain understudied. This study investigated how two Si fertilizers—monosilicic acid (SiM) and “Lujia 1” (SiL)—affect cracking rate, yield, and quality in crack-resistant (‘Chun Honey 25’, C25) and crack-susceptible (‘Xizhou Honey 25’, X25) melon cultivars, compared to a no-Si control. Results showed that both Si fertilizers significantly reduced cracking rates (by 54.9–36.0% in X25 and 44.3–35.8% in C25), with SiL being more effective than SiM. SiL also increased yield more prominently, particularly in X25 (93.8 t ha⁻¹, + 28.1% vs. control). Both Si fertilizers enhanced sucrose accumulation by upregulating sucrose phosphate synthase activity while suppressing acid invertase, increasing soluble sugar content by 4.2–4.4%. Additionally, SiL boosted vitamin C content by 89.6% in X25 and 51.7% in C25, primarily by enhancing L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase activity while reducing ascorbate oxidase and peroxidase activities. These findings demonstrate that Si fertilizers, especially SiL, mitigate fruit cracking, improve yield, and enhance sugar and vitamin C accumulation in melons by modulating key metabolic enzymes.