With sufficient time, sometimes two to four weeks, nearly normal external color develops on most fruit. Since green fruit appears normal, the first indication of irregular ripening occurs when the fruit is removed from ripening rooms. Plant vigor and foliage appear normal, but occasionally may have virus-like symptoms. Irregular ripening has been observed on several cultivars of tomatoes as well as plum and cherry tomatoes. External symptoms of tomato irregular ripening.
Starburst effect is evident on the tomatoes in the center.
History Ripening disorders such as graywall or blotchy ripening occur from time to time in Florida tomatoes. However, the incidence of these disorders is usually low because of the use of resistant cultivars, and can often be traced to faulty fertilizer application or some unusual weather situation. The occurrence of the disorder was much more severe in the Immokalee-Naples area than in the other two areas. No verified report of the disorder came from the Palmetto-Ruskin or Quincy production areas. In southwest Florida, irregular ripening was first noted in mid-March, and was initially thought to be graywall.