SUNSCALD Meaning and
Definition
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Sunscald is a term used in agriculture and horticulture to describe a condition that affects the leaves, stems, or fruits of a plant due to excessive exposure to the sun's intense rays. It usually occurs during periods of high temperatures, combined with intense sunlight, and inadequate moisture levels. Sunscald mainly affects the areas of a plant that are directly exposed to sunlight, causing them to become discolored, withered, or bleached.
In its most common manifestation, sunscald refers to the damage inflicted on the outer skin layers of fruits, such as apples or peppers, resulting in a whitish or yellowish appearance. This occurs when the sun heats the fruit to an extremely high temperature, causing the cells to burst and leading to discoloration and a loss of vitality. Sunscald may also affect the leaves, resulting in a scorched or burned appearance, which can impair their ability to photosynthesize effectively.
While sunscald is primarily a consequence of excessive sun exposure, other factors such as heat stress, inadequate irrigation, and improper pruning practices can contribute to its occurrence. Commercial farmers and gardeners take preventive measures to minimize sunscald, including applying shading materials, maintaining proper irrigation, providing adequate mulching, and using reflective covers or barriers.
Overall, sunscald is a condition that occurs when plants experience harm from prolonged, intense sun exposure, leading to discoloration, withering, and reduced vitality in leaves, stems, or fruits.
Etymology of SUNSCALD
The word "sunscald" is a combination of two terms: "sun" and "scald".
The term "sun" comes from the Old English word "sunne", derived from the Proto-Germanic language's "sunnon". It is related closely to the Old Norse "sól" and has common origins with other Indo-European languages, such as the Latin "sol" and the Sanskrit "sūrya", all meaning "sun".
The term "scald" comes from the Old Norse word "skald", which means "to scald or burn". It is also related to the Middle Dutch "scalden" and the German "scalden", both having similar meanings.
