Question
QUESTION: I have a 2 year old Meyer lemon tree.  This year is the first for producing fruit.  The tree foliage is beautiful dark green with no sign of any problems.  No spots, discoloration, sooty mold.  As the fruit ripened from green to yellow,they become discolored.  The fruit has a smell of rotting but does not look that bad inside.  The outside is brown but the texture of the skin is normal.  My nursery is not sure of what it is but they are thinking of some disease.  Can you help?

ANSWER: Hi Richard, Here are two possibilities it could be.

Black Spot is a fungal problem showing as circular, dark, sunken spots on the fruit.  Spray the young fruit and foliage with a copper spray in early spring, and then repeat again in 6 weeks time.

Boron Deficiency is indicated by fruit with dry, brown flesh.  Dissolve 1 tablespoon of borax in hot water then mix into 9 litres of water and apply to the soil between the trunk and the outer foliage line.  This treatment should not be used in quantities larger than recommended and never more than once a year.  Sometimes, if the soil is very acidic, this may limit the boron available to the plant and the addition of dolomite may assist.

If this does not sound like it let me know.  kathy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply.  The shape and texture of the fruit is normal.  If I understand the black spot to have sunken circular spots, I don't think that is it.  The fruit is darkened in general sometimes the whole fruit and sometimes 1/3 to 1/2 is Brown.  It almost has the appearance of sooty mold but it won't come off at all and the nursery ruled it out.  The Boron idea is interesting.  The fruit is now ripe and nearly ready to pick.  Should I treat later for the Boron?  I also saw a picture of fruit that looks just like mine that was diagnosed as Citrus Rust Mites.  Could that be a possibility?

Answer
Hi Richard, Checking on the rust mite, I got the impression the fruit was rotting as you said smelled.  The rust mite is very possible and easy to cure.  a good site I found was very interesting you may want to keep for info it is .http://thegarden.com.au/advice/citruspd.htm

I use 100 per cent pure neem oil from dyna grow I have been using it at my nursery for many years and will protect most of the problems that plants get.  Is also a fungicide and a miticide and does not was off.  You can also e mail me at www.crowleynursery.net at my website if you need me further.  kathy