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Sun scald
Tom Zabadal , MSU Horticulture
Home > Scouting guide> sun scald
Sun scald causes grape berry surfaces to become brown and possibly shriveled. These symptoms appear on the portions of the cluster exposed to direct sunlight. This injury often occurs when fruit that has developed in shade is exposed to direct sunlight, such as when leaf removal, summer pruning, shoot positioning or other canopy management practices occur in mid-to late season. Fruit exposed to sunlight for the entire growing season may also develop sun scald when drought conditions develop. Fruit damaged by sun scald may develop various fruit rots and deteriorate further.
White Riesling grapes near harvest injured by sun scald and subsequently infected with fruit rot. Photo: T. Zabadal

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Funding for this web site provided by Project GREEEN, American Farmland Trust, EPA Region 5's Strategic Agricultural Initiative program, The National Foundation for IPM Education, the Center for Agricultural Partnerships and the MSU Integrated Pest Management Program
in collaboration with MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.
Updated 12/11/07 Contact: J.N. Landis.