Almond Kernel Defects

It has been a challenging year in regards to kernel quality within almonds. Several issues have emerged including insects, diseases, and deficiencies. Samples of each of these have been brought to the office for identification. In doing so, I thought it would a good idea to share what we have found with the accompanying figure. Each of these problems seem to have a set of circumstances that led to an increased observance of the problem in 2017. They include: Leaf-footed plant bug. These large bugs damage the kernel by feeding. There was a larger over-wintering population in 2017 which is thought to be due to the milder winter and increased vegetation that occurred from the increased rain. Damage was reported on nearly all varieties, but was particularly bad on ‘Aldrich’ and ‘Fritz.’ If the feeding occurs early in the season it will kill the kernel. Later feeding occurring as the shell hardens and the embryo matures will not kill the nut but cause staining and sometimes gumming. The defining characteristic is a sunken black spot located on the kernel. Boron deficiency. This deficiency can occur in areas with clean surface water and low soil boron and is observed regularly on the east side of the central valley. Boron deficiency can lead to gum that crystallizes on the end of the kernel and is not in response to a feeding wound. A hull analysis should be conducted to determine boron levels as leaf levels are not indicative of tree boron status. A hull analysis under 80 ppm indicates deficiency and boron should be applied to the soil to bring the trees to sufficient levels. Insect damage. Navel orangeworm (NOW) was high this year with reports as high as 40% in late harvesting varieties. Lack of winter sanitation due to the rains

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Rhizopus and Kernel Issues

Rhizopus stolonifer, also known as the bread mold fungi, is a ubiquitous fungi. Within almonds, we often think of it as the Hull Rot pathogen, which can kill limbs through the movement of a produced toxin. Over the past harvest period, however, there have been some interesting kernel symptoms observed that have been found to be caused by this fungus as identified through isolations. The increased occurrence of these infections is thought to be due to the increased humidity experienced during the July, which most likely favored fungal growth. The first set of symptoms observed was the white fungal growth on the surface of the kernel (figure 1). The initial infection begins as a light, white fuzz that grows, and if left long enough in suitable conditions, begins to develop black spores. When these lesions were submitted for isolation, they came back as Rhizopus stolonifer. This type of kernel infection rarely becomes a concern because as the kernel dries to a suitable percentage for storage (~6% moisture), the fungal growth usually dries out and is not visible. It does not create a food safety issue. The second set of symptoms observed was a black or dark lesion that occurs on ‘Sonora’ kernels. These lesion tends to follow the “veins” of the kernel skin. The severity of kernel discoloring can vary, with most of the discolored kernels not providing an issue at processing. If, however, the infected areas are large enough, the kernels could get kicked out by the color sorters at the processors. When these kernels were submitted for isolation, we found both Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger. Both of these fungi are common opportunistic fungi, and outside of the staining, the infected kernels do not pose a food safety concern. Thankfully, opportunistic fungi infecting kernels does not always occur. This

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Stink Bug Damage within Almonds

Stink bugs are found occasionally in almonds. They feed on the almond hulls from late April through July, causing gummosis and kernel abortion. Typically, multiple feeding points are found on an almond and within an area of the tree, with few feeding holes extending into the kernel after shell hardening. Even without reaching the developing kernel, excessive feeding can still cause crop loss, kernel discoloration, as well as infections of the fruit by yeast, other fungi, and bacteria. There are several different species of stink bugs that affect almonds. Most common is the green stink bug, but the red-shouldered stink bug can also be found. These insects tend to move into the field during the spring when weed or crop hosts begin to dry up – which tends to be earlier in years of low winter rains. The green stink bug may also overwinter within the orchard. Eggs tend to be barrel-shaped and laid in clusters on hulls. There are currently no treatment thresholds for stink bugs. The decision to treat should be based on the appearance of damage and the extent of the damage. Monitor the orchard for gummosis and try to observe the pest to separate it from feeding that may be caused by leaf footed plant bug. Unlike leaf-footed plant bug, stink bugs aren’t as mobile and sprays can be very effective. Use of a broad spectrum insecticide should reduce populations. Data suggests that an application typically reduces populations enough that another treatment may not be needed for three years. More information can be found at the UC IPM Webpage for Stink Bugs.  

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Kernel Gumming – How Much Are You Seeing?

I have had several calls and sample submissions in regards to kernel gumming on ‘Nonpareil’ kernels. In one case, as much as 5% of the kernels have been rejected. Many farmers and consultants are speculating that it is leaf footed plant bug (LFPB) damage. I am unsure of the exact cause, but the observed symptoms do not always match LFPB. 

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