Studies on the cause and development of ridges on lime fruit

Abstract

Ridges and excrescences on lime fruit were found not to be due to the citrus bud mite, Aceria sheldoni (Ewing), as had been suspected. The deformity results from incomplete separation of the stamens and pistil, or from fusion of the stamens and pistil, during the development of the flower. The origin and early development of the deformity are associated with moisture in the form of fog, dew, or rain, and with the fungi Botrytis cinerea Pers. and Alternaria citri Ellis and Pierce.