Tomato catfacing. The disease targets tomatoes grown in greenhouses.
Tomato catfacing is a physiological disorder that affects tomatoes in the field and greenhouse. Catfacing is when the tomato is malformed with deep indents, rough scars, puckers, uneven ripening, and sometimes delineated segments.
This is due to abnormal development of plant tissues affecting the ovary that results in malformed fruit. It is thought to be caused by a problem during the formation of the flower that results in the fruit not developing normally.
However, there is little information as to its exact cause. This disorder can increase the chances of fruit becoming infected via the rough blossom scar by black mould rot, a disease caused by several different fungi, under certain environmental conditions.
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A catfaced tomato is still edible. However, it may have some mould, fungi, or insect pests, rendering it less than appetising.
Catface tomatoes are challenging to process and finicky to carve, with uneven ripening, some mouldy bits, and bug-eaten parts.
The exact cause is not known, but many cultural conditions that trigger abnormal development of the tomato flower buds before blossoming have been associated with catfacing.
Fluctuating temperatures
Cool weather has been associated with the development of this disorder. Temperatures that dip below 15 degrees centigrade three weeks before the plant blooms may interfere with the normal development of the flower bud, which can result in catfacing.
Abnormally hot weather can also induce this condition.
A farmer inspects tomatoes at one of the greenhouses at Nakuru ASK Show. Though a catfaced tomato is edible, it is less attractive to consumers. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Even worse is when there are wide fluctuations between temperatures at night and during the day. This can cause the fruit to alternate between slow growth and quick growth a situation that favours the development of catfacing.
Wait until the day and night temperatures are consistently above 15 degrees celsius before transplanting. The soil should have warmed up as well. Avoid low greenhouse temperatures for both greenhouse tomatoes and transplants. Don’t plant into high tunnels too early if you’re not able to heat them.
Damage to flowers
Physical damage to the flowers, before or after pollination can cause catfacing. Damage can be a result of insect attacks such as thrips. Leaf curl is a major symptom of thrip infestation. Control these insects before they destroy your crop.
Pruning and excessive Nitrogen
Excessive pruning or high concentrations of nitrogen in the soil may also cause catfacing. Make sure not to give your tomato plants too much nitrogen. Excessive nitrogen is problematic also because it can cause blossom end rot. Do not go overboard when pruning your tomatoes. Prune just enough to keep indeterminate tomato plants under control. Pruning may reduce the number of flowers. This may make the tomato concentrate its energy on a smaller number of flowers and fruit. This may result in larger fruit that is more susceptible to catfacing.
Ensure adequate moisture level
Tomatoes require consistent watering. Consistent watering can reduce fruit cracking as well as some other fruit development problems. Mulching is one way of retaining moisture in the soil which will, in turn, reduce the chances that your fruit will develop catface. Another is to water thoroughly at the soil level.
Exposure to herbicides
In commercial operations, tomatoes that have been exposed to herbicides can develop this disorder. The chemical mimics plant hormones, so it can disrupt the normal development of the fruit. Fortunately for the home gardener, edible crop exposure to chemical herbicides is unlikely.
Resistant varieties
Open-pollinated varieties seem to be less affected by catfacing than hybrid tomatoes. If you have grown heirloom tomatoes in your garden and experienced catfacing, consider hybrids with a similar flavour profile and harvest time.
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to control either of these maladies, except selecting varieties that are not prone to the problem. Older cultivars appear to be more susceptible.
If possible remove the catfaced fruit as they are unmarketable, but will continue to drain nutrients from the plant.
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