Stylar End Rot

Persian limes with brown bottoms have stylar end rot.


Also known as stylar end breakdown, stylar end rot generally affects Bearss, Tahitian, and other Persian limes species, though it has been seen in other lime and lemon varieties. Stylar end rot is a physiological disease, which means it is not caused by pests or pathogens. Instead, stylar end rot is caused by too much heat and drought. Even though limes, lemons, and other citrus have thick, waxy skins to protect themselves from the sun’s heat and drought conditions, sometimes that protection isn’t enough.


Symptoms of stylar end rot
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The stylar end of a fruit is the part with the dried up flower petals, opposite the stem end. Stylar end rot starts out as a small, grayish sunken area, at the stylar end, that slowly becomes firm and leathery. Affected areas can spread to cover 1/4 to 1/2 of the fruit, which is often invaded by bacteria or fungi. The tissues inside break down and turn brown or pink. Diseased fruit can be added to the compost pile, but only if it is free of other fungi and bacteria. Otherwise, toss it in the trash. Stylar end rot found on guava has been found to be caused by a fungi, Phomopsis. Some fungal diseases exhibit similar symptoms:

• alternaria rot - fruit looks ripe when it isn’t; inside is rotted
• anthracnose - soft, sunken brown areas with visible white fungal growth
• brown rot - starts out as stinky tan or olive brown lesions anywhere on the fruit
• blue (green) mold - also known as clear rot; anywhere on the fruit

​Preventing stylar end rot

You can’t. Stylar end rot occurs when Persian limes and other citrus are exposed to an accumulated 18 hours of temperatures over 105°F. Think of it as reverse chill hours. What you can do is pick the fruit earlier than normal after a particularly hot summer.​