Blackberries are fruits of the rose family, native to Europe and North Asia and grown in temperate regions worldwide. There are many varieties of blackberries including black, purple, and yellow but red blackberries are the most common.
This fruit has many benefits for human health and becomes an indispensable ingredient in many dishes, cakes, and ice cream.
Blackberries are high in antioxidants, which may have anti-cancer effects. Some laboratory studies show that berry extracts including red raspberry can stop the growth and kill colon, prostate, breast, and oral cancer cells.
So many gardeners love to grow blackberries indoor or in the garden. This plant is relatively easy to grow, easy to care for, and does not require any complicated techniques. However, one of the common problems with this fruit is the white spots on the fruit.
Why do my blackberries have white spots? This is probably the question that you will ask during the process of growing blackberries. Let us answer these questions in the article below.
Why do my blackberries have white spots? What is white spot disease?
White spots on blackberries are small particles on the fruit that are white and uneven. On a raspberry, they may alternate or appear with several white dots.
Many people began to question these white spots. What causes blackberries to have these white spots? Are white-spotted blackberries edible? Does it affect health when eaten?
White spots on blackberries are caused by albino syndrome or white drupelet syndrome/disorder. The cause of this condition may be related to sunlight, heat, and wind.
However, white spots appearing on blackberries can also be caused by spider bugs or bugs that attack and cause color disturbances.
You can spot this condition on all types of red, black, or yellow blackberries. However, this does not mean that these blackberries are not safe to eat. Typically, gardeners will remove white-spotted blackberries before harvesting or selling them on the market.
White spots on blackberries will make them unsightly and affect the taste of this fruit. So, let’s find out the cause of this situation to prevent and fix it.
What causes white spots on blackberries?
There are many causes of white spots on raspberries such as light, temperature, weather, or pests. Changes in weather and extreme conditions also make albinism common in blackberries.
1. The light is too strong
The blackberry plant prefers direct sunlight every day. So for best growth, they need 6-8 hours of direct light daily to promote photosynthesis and fruiting.
However, intense or prolonged sun exposure will also cause blackberries to tan or have white spots.
You can use a portable canopy to protect your blackberries if the light is too strong and maintain the right light for the best blackberry growth.
In addition, changing the planting location of this plant from the north to the south will also solve the situation of harsh sunlight.
2. The dry and hot wind
Cold drying winds of 20 to 24 degrees F (-7 to -4 degrees C) or hot winds will also cause white spots to appear on blackberries. The best way to protect this fruit from the negative effects of the wind is to use a canopy or a windbreak.
However, you should not completely cover the blackberry plant because it will limit bees and insects to promote pollination.
3. The temperature is too cold
Blackberries cannot tolerate extreme cold because they will freeze and rot when the ice melts. This fruit can only survive at temperatures as low as -10 degrees F (-23 degrees C).
When temperatures are too cold and frost covers, blackberries can only survive low temperatures of 0 to 10 degrees F (-17 to -12 degrees C). At that time, white spots will appear due to inappropriate temperature.
In addition, excessive heat also leads to white spots appearing on blackberries. The temperature will affect the color and increase the color disorder syndrome in this fruit. It’s best to plant blackberries in a cold area rather than a hot area regularly.
4. White spots due to pests
Pests such as mites, red spider mites, larvae, and stink bugs are the common insects that attack blackberries and cause white spots.
They cause lesions on the fruit such as unusual brown or white spots. These insects often hide under leaves and cause black spots. You need to regularly observe and check to get rid of pests.
Bugs are easier to see because they are large and often produce more obvious lesions than small insects. When winter ends and temperatures rise, this is when the bugs attack blackberries the most.
To get rid of the bugs, you should clean up the weeds and plants that grow around the raspberry tree because this is an ideal place for the bugs to hide. Alternatively, you can use a clay solution to prevent bugs from laying eggs and attacking blackberries.
Spiders and ticks are usually most active in hot temperatures, so they are likely to attack blackberry plants in the summer or spring. The best way to control their infestation is to use insecticides, insecticidal soaps, or apply neem oil.
Are white-spotted blackberries edible?
For blackberries with white spots caused by the effects of light, heat, or wind, you can eat them. It is the impact of weather that causes albinism to increase.
However, if blackberries have white spots due to pest attack, you should not eat them because they are not hygienic to eat.
Animals like cats and dogs can eat white-spotted blackberries because they are soft and easy to digest. They usually do not contain substances that are too toxic to pets.
Conclusion
Blackberries with white spots are a common albino syndrome in this fruit. This is caused by negative temperature, wind, or light affecting the color of blackberries.
In addition, insects such as mites, spiders, and bugs also cause white spots on blackberries. They often destroy the structure of blackberries and cause color disturbances.
These blackberries are edible if they have white spots due to weathering. Ideally, you should not eat blackberries with white spots created by insects because they are not hygienic.