Johnny, the fruit drop is quite normal for such a young tree. And, your tree looks to be in great shape, very healthy and green. But, the odd scarring or markings on the peel, not sure what that might be. You don't say where you're from. If you contact your local extension office, they might be able to shed some light on the odd markings, scarring on the fruit.

Patty S.

Hi Patty,

Thanks for your reply. I'm from San Jose, CA. I'll check my local office to find out more about the scars. I hope it is not a disease or virus that cause the problem.

Regards,

- Johnny

Try your local Master Gardener program and send photos. I'd be interested in their opinion of the peel, and whether or not this is a normal thing, or if you've got some sort of pest situation going on. Can't say I've ever seen that on any of my citrus. I don't have a Minneola, so don't know if this is a just a "Minneola" thing. I've included the UC IPM Citrus Pest website for you to look through, to see if there is anything that might be causing these odd scars.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC IPM: Citrus Pests

Hope you get it figured out, Johnny. Try contacting your local Master Gardener's group. They are part of the Coop Extension Program for the State of California. Not sure we've got any regional Coop Ext. offices left in the state anymore, but the MG's can assist you. And, here's a link to UC IPM's web site on Citrus Pests for you as well. Let us know what you find out!

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: UC IPM: Citrus Pests

Hi Patty,

Thanks for sending me the link. It is very helpful. I have email the Mater Gardener for help. Hopefully, it is not serious. I'll post the answer when they get back to me.

Thanks,

- Johnny

Hi Patty,

I got a reply from the Master Gardener. I was told that the scarring was caused by either citrus thrips or wind abrasion. The citrus thrips is not harmful to my plant, and the fruit is OK to eat. So far, I don't see any citrus thrips.

Thanks,

- Johnny

Thanks for the follow up, Johnny! I will check citrus thrips on the UC IPM website so I'm more familiar with this pest. We don't seem to have this issue down here in N. San Diego county, but always good to be informed!

Patty S.

Of all the thousands of possible blooms produced by a Minneola Tangelo, or any citrus varietiy, only about 1 to 3 percent of the blooms produce fruit. Of the original fruit that set only about 1-3 percent of them will remain on the tree until maturity. If every flower produced a fruit, and if it remained on the tree, the tree would be crushed under it own weight.

Silica, think we have the fruit drop figured out, but any idea what is causing the odd scarring or peel distortion? I don't think it's being caused by citrus thrips.

Patty S.

I think it's citrus scab. Apparently, when the fruits are infected earlier, it looks more warty and less scabby.

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/our_offices/parishes/St.+Mary/Features/Agriculture/insect_plant_disease_id/Home+Citrus+Insect+and+Disease+Damage.htm

http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5372453

Here is another link that mentions the minneola as being one of the most susceptible to scab.

Here is a link that might be useful: University of Florida

I agree, Karly, and I have to say, I have never seen this in California! Can't even find any info on Citrus Scab on the UC IPM we site. Well sleuthed! Hopefully Johnny can manage this. Frankly, I'm so overly surprised. We have had two years of record fungal issues in our California gardens due to very high rain fall amounts, and long cool, wet springs. Creating the optimal growing conditions for fungus. Just about everything in my garden was affected these last two springs, especially this year. All growers and nurseries struggled to keep Peach Leaf Curl under control, roses were covered with powdery mildew, Black Spot and Rust, it's just been "Fungus Amongus" this year. Well done!

Patty S.

I believe the citrus scab is rare in my area. Now, my tangelo plant is totally fruitless, but it is flowering. I just have to keep an eye on the new fruit for scarring.

Thanks for your help!

- Johnny

Hi Patty,

You mentioned regarding the Peach Leaf Curl, is it only happen on young plant? I have two two-years old peach plants, one has the leaf curl issue and other one is not affected at all. Both are in a container and next to each other. My neighbor told me she has never encountered this problem with her peach tree (10 year old tree).

Thanks,

- Johnny

Sure, I had it pop up on several of my brand new stone fruits this spring when I planted several bare root stone fruit trees. Depending upon how vigilant the grower was about dormant spraying, determined the amount of PLC I saw. And, some varieties of stone fruit are just more susceptible, too. So, age has nothing to do with it, but more how frequently the tree was sprayed during the dormant season and variety susceptibility. And, here in Calif, it was a banner year for PLC. We always have it here down in S. Diego county near the coast due to our cooler temps and humidity from the ocean. It was just particularly bad this spring due to the very wet winter and spring, and prolonged cool temps.

Patty S.

The weather this year has played a major part in damaging the crop and winery couldn't get enough grapes to produce the wine. I remember the tomato price went up sharply between February and April.

Anyway, I'm going to spray the copper on my peach plant during dormant season. Probably do nothing for my tangelo plant. Just keep watering and looking out for pest.

Thanks,

- Johnny

Yup, I usually do the "holiday" dormant spray schedule (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day), but I'm going to try to squeeze in a 4th spraying after Valentine's Day if we have another long, cold wet winter and spring.

Patty S.

I'm thinking of spraying twice. One during the dormant and before the new leaves come out. I afraid too much copper spraying can build up over the years since it doesn't wash away and reduce earthworm populations.

- Johnny

It can, Johnny, but last year even 4 sprayings did not take care of PLC. Plus, the copper dormant spray we have available these days in California is a fraction of the strength of previous copper sprays, which we can no longer get here in California, due to concerns with copper building up in the soil and water supply. So, I don't worry so much about the earthworms as I might have when I was using stronger stuff. You can see how you do with 2 sprayings, but I have such huge issues with PLC and just about every other fungal thing in my garden last year, it was really a struggle. I nearly lost many of my more exotic hibiscus, and my poor roses were pretty ugly there for a while. Not to mention many of my stone fruits.

Patty S.

One thing for certain, Tanww88's tree does not have scab. First, the symptoms shown in the pictures are not correct for citrus scab. Second, a tree infected with scab would also have its leaves badly infected with the disease. Scab does not show up only on the fruit, while leaving the leaves clean. A scab infection attacks all parts of a citrus tree. The leaves shown in the pictures are very healthy indeed, and the tree is blooming. Lastly, there is no scab in the state of California. The tree's problem is definitely, and most certainly, not citrus scab.

Well, no wonder we didn't know anything about scab, Silica. What do you think is causing the odd scarification on the peel, then? Do you think it's wind damage? So odd, and so pronounced. Maybe Minneolas tend to do this?? I don't have a Minneola, so can't say.

Patty S.

Hi Patty,

Thanks for the advice. I'll spray the copper as needed.

- Johnny