Whip-tail In this condition, the leaf blades do not develop properly and become strap like. The growing point is severely deformed and no marketable curd is formed. This condition in cauliflower results because of the deficiency of molybdenum which occurs in acidic soils below 4-5 pH. Correction measures: It may be controlled by liming the soil which reduces the acidity and increases the soil pH up to 6.5. It may also be controlled by the application of 1-2 kg/ac of sodium or ammonium molybdate. Browning Browning is a common problem in cauliflower. In this the stem becomes hollow and the curd becomes brown. Affected curds develop a bitter taste. Browning occurs because of the deficiency of boron. Correction measures: This condition may be controlled by the application of borax or sodium borate @ 20 kg per hectare. In case of acute deficiency, spray of 0.25 to 0.50% solution of borax @ 1-2 kg/ac will give satisfactory results. It has been reported that boron and molybdenum increase curd size and weight as well as ascorbic acid content when applied together. Buttoning This disorder of cauliflower is identified by the development of small curd or 'button' while the plants are small and consequently the curd gets open. This is caused due to the deficiency of nitrogen, by planting seedlings older than 6 weeks, or any other factors that cause check in growth in the early stage of seedlings. These factors may be insufficient moisture supply, water logging, hot and dry weather, carelessness in proper and timely weeding and pest and disease attack. If an early variety is grown 37 late, its growth is checked due to lower temperature and the curds remain under sized or buttoned. Such factors should be avoided to get proper size of the curd. Riceyness A premature initiation of floral buds in cauliflower is characterized by riceyness. In this case the peduncle elongates and the curd becomes granular and loose. Such curds are considered to be of poor quality for marketing. This condition may result from any temperature higher or lower than the optimum required for a particular variety. Rampant growth, heavy nitrogen dressing and high relative humidity may also play some role in developing this condition. It may also appear when the harvesting of curds is delayed and they become over mature. Blindness When the terminal bud does not develop or gets broken or eaten away by the insects, the condition is called 'blindness. In other words the plant grows without the terminal bud with no formation of curd or head. The leaves become large, dark green and leathery. These types of plants should be removed from the field. Internal tip burn Tipburn is a nonpathogenic internal disorder that is associated with the death of leaf tissue, usually along the leaf margins in the interior of the head. At first the tissue turns tan or light brown, but later may appear to be dark brown or even black. The affected tissue loses moisture and takes on a papery appearance. The extent of the symptoms may vary from a narrow band along the leaf margin(s) of one or a few leaves to a rather extensive zone involving a number of leaves. The condition is not progressive, but does become increasingly evident as head maturity approaches. If an affected head is harvested at an early state of maturation, little evidence of the disorder may be observed. For this reason, fresh market cabbage does not as often show visible symptoms of tipburn as do more-mature processing cabbage heads. Affected tissue may be invaded by secondary pathogens (i.e., bacterial soft rot), which can cause further breakdown. Because tipburn cannot be detected externally, the head must be cut open to determine whether the disorder is present Phosphorus deficiency Pigmentation in old leaves; curd size and quality will be affected Correction measure Soil application of recommended dose phosphorus. Zinc deficiency Young leaves become small; curd color will be affected. Correction measure: Foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% Boron Deficiency in Cauliflower (Brown Rot / Browning) — Bihar Soils Browning, also known as brown rot or brown heart, is a common physiological disorder of cauliflower caused by boron deficiency. Affected plants show a hollow stem with internally browned pith, and the curd itself turns brown and develops a bitter taste that makes it unfit for marketing. Unlike a fungal or bacterial disease, the browning originates internally within the stem and curd tissue rather than as an external spreading lesion, and no mycelial growth or odour is present. Occurrence in Bihar Boron deficiency is particularly severe in Bihar's cauliflower-growing tracts, including parts of the Chotanagpur plateau margins, Samastipur, Bhagalpur, and Munger districts. This is linked to three soil factors common in the region: Acid soil reaction (pH 4.5–5.5) — chemically binds boron to iron and aluminium oxides, making it unavailable to roots even when present in the soil Low organic matter — the main reservoir of plant-available boron in tropical soils Heavy monsoon rainfall (1,000–1,200 mm, concentrated June–September) — leaches soluble boron below the root zone before the rabi cauliflower crop is transplanted Boron uptake is further reduced during dry spells, since low soil moisture reduces root activity even where soil boron levels are otherwise adequate. This is why symptoms often intensify during dry periods of the rabi season. Symptoms Young leaves remain small, stiff, and pale green Leaf margins show reddish-brown discolouration Leaf midribs and petioles turn thick and corky Stem pith develops water-soaked patches that turn brown to black and eventually become hollow Curd shows brown discolouration, remains small and loose, and develops a bitter taste Correction Measures Lime application — Apply agricultural lime at 3–4 tonnes/ha, 4–6 weeks before transplanting, if soil pH is below 5.5. Allow at least two weeks before applying borax. Basal borax dose — Apply borax (sodium tetraborate, 10–11% B) as a basal soil dose at 10–20 kg/ha, mixed uniformly into the topsoil at final field preparation. Avoid concentrated placement near seed rows, as this can cause localised toxicity. Root dip — Dip seedling roots in a 0.2% borax solution for about 30 minutes before transplanting. First foliar spray — Apply a foliar spray of 0.2–0.5% borax solution 30 days after transplanting, covering both leaf surfaces, using about 500 litres of spray solution per hectare. Second foliar spray — Repeat at curd initiation (typically 45–55 days after transplanting) to meet peak boron demand during curd development. Organic matter — Incorporate 10–15 tonnes/ha of well-decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) or compost every season to build long-term soil boron reserves and buffer soil pH. Caution: Boron has a narrow safety margin — application above 20 kg/ha as a soil dose can cause toxicity, visible as scorching at the margins of older leaves. A soil test for hot-water-soluble boron (critical threshold: 0.5 µg/g) is recommended before application to confirm deficiency and avoid over-application. Note: Boron deficiency (browning) should not be confused with whiptail disorder, a related but distinct disorder caused by molybdenum deficiency, in which leaves become strap-shaped but the curd remains white. IPM for Cabbage and Cauliflower To know the IPM practices for Cabbage & Cauliflower, click here. Source: NIPHM, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage