Sunscald

• White to tan, papery, or bleached patches on fruit facing the sun — typically on the side exposed after defoliation
• Affected skin may become dry and tough, or later collapse into a sunken, wrinkled area
• Usually develops after foliage is removed by disease, pruning, or pest damage
• Tissue underneath the bleached area may remain firm initially but often rots later
• Most common on tomatoes and peppers in hot climates

Sunscald is a physiological disorder caused by direct UV and heat exposure on fruit that was previously shaded by foliage. It often appears mid- to late summer when lower leaves have dropped from disease or when plants are heavily pruned. Fruit exposed to temperatures above 105°F at the surface can develop sunscald within a few hours.

1. 01Protect the leaf canopy — manage early blight and Septoria leaf spot early so foliage stays on plants
2. 02Avoid aggressive summer pruning that removes shading leaves from developing fruit
3. 03If foliage loss is unavoidable, use shade cloth (30-40%) over affected plants during peak afternoon heat
4. 04Do not remove fruit from the vine to ripen elsewhere if sunscald damage is active — harvest early and ripen indoors
5. 05Paint remaining bare soil white or use reflective mulch to reduce radiant heat from the ground

Sunscald is usually easy to diagnose from appearance and context. If you're unsure whether a bleached area is sunscald or a fungal lesion, an extension plant diagnostic lab can help — treatment differs significantly.

• Sunscald on Tomatoes— University of Minnesota Extension
• Sunscald of Tomato and Pepper— Clemson Cooperative Extension