Riceyness in cauliflower:

During the curdling stage, the curd's velvety surface loosens, and the pedicle lengthens, producing tiny white flower buds. As a result, produced curds are known as "rice." 

The question is, is the riceyness in cauliflower safe to eat?

REASONS of riceyness in cauliflower

The condition arises due to temperature variations and a lack of seed supply. It can be controlled by proper variety selection, optimum nitrogen fertilizer application, and planting tolerant and resistant varieties.

Blindness:

A blind cauliflower lacks a terminal bud. In the early stages of plant growth, the growing buds of cauliflower get affected when curd formation does not occur. The leaves become thick, dark green, large, and leathery by accumulating carbohydrates. The plant remains vegetative. 

This is due to low temperatures and insects, such as cutworms. This can be controlled by applying insecticides that kill the insects and prevent the buds from being damaged. Also, avoid exposure to low temperatures.

Leafiness or bracing:

You can notice the formation of little green leaves between the parts of the curd. After the curdling stage, there are high temperatures and a delay in harvesting. This may be managed by choosing cultivars based on their flexibility.

Multiple curds: 

This Multiple Curds: This condition is characterized by a cluster of little button-like curds. Low temperatures and terminal bud damage cause branching and tiny curds on each branch, resulting in branching and forming small curds on each branch.

 This can be managed by using several damage-reduction plant protection measures. These measures also protect against cold temperatures. Because the curds were exposed to high light intensities, they had a pink tint. Anthocyanin pigment develops in this environment, giving the curds a pink tint.

Black speck:

 When cells in the inside of the curd of snowball-type cauliflower collapse, black blemishes appear. This condition results when snowball (late) cultivars are exposed to warm temperatures during their growth phases. 

 Browning: 

It is also called "red rot" or "brown rot" caused by a boron deficiency. The soil may be deficient in boron, or it may not be available to the plant due to unfavorable soil reaction and salinity. 

Boron deficiency causes browning and acridness of the curd with a hollow stem. Similarly, inadequate root amplification delayed crop maturity, while phosphorus deficit caused curd quality to deteriorate.

 Cauliflower is more sensitive to this boron deficiency. 

 The symptoms appear after the curd has formed. In the early stages, water-saturated regions may be noticed on the curd and stem surface. Subsequently, the leaves and the surface of the curd develop a rusty brown hue.

The stem eventually becomes hollow, and wet tissues cover the cavity's inner walls. When significant deficits occur, the curd becomes brown or pink, resulting in red rot, brown rot, or browning of cauliflower. 

The color of the foliage shifts from a drab green to a greenish-yellow, and the leaves grow tiny and underdeveloped. The use of borax may help to manage this. The amount varies according to the pH, kind of soil, and degree of shortage. 

It swings between 10-15 kg/ha in acidic soils but may increase in alkaline soils. Four sprayings of 0.25 to 0.50 % borax solution at 1-2 kg/ha with 0.1 % Teepol as a sticker adequately control acute deficiency. Spraying 0.2 to 0.25 % boric acid or sodium borate on the affected area is beneficial.

 Whiptail:

Due to molybdenum insufficiency. This is often caused by molybdenum insufficiency. It is more prevalent in cauliflower when grown on acidic soils because the availability of molybdenum is lower with the reduction in soil pH of less than 5.5. In addition, there are genotypic abnormalities concerning sensitivity. 

In immature plants, chlorosis of the leaf edges may be detected, and whole leaves become white. Leaf blades do not grow adequately, and a severe deficit of just the midrib occurs. 

This situation is called "sodium molybdate at 10–15 kg/ha." It may be managed by spraying the plant twice with 0.1 % ammonium molybdate and 0.1 % Teepol as a sticker.

Hollow stem:

Excessive nitrogen levels or boron deficiencies primarily cause this. The symptoms might be noticed in the body. The thick, fleshy core of the stem separates, and a hollow is produced. 

 This hollow expands to both ends to produce an entrance to the outer world. 

This may be controlled by using tight spacing and applying the required amount of nitrogen or by spraying with borax (0.25 to 0.50 %). (0.25 – 0.50 %).

Buttoning:

  The formation of small buttons or white curd can be observed in the early stages of plant growth after a few leaves have formed. 

A lack of nitrogen fertilizer, planting overgrown seedlings because old seedlings after establishment do not have enough time to start growth before coagulation, early varieties that are transplanted late, and exposing seedlings to poor light conditions all contribute to the cauliflower button.

Excess nitrogen should be applied, transplanting shocks should be minimized, favorable circumstances should be provided throughout the plant's vegetative development, and the seedlings to be transplanted should not be older than six weeks.

 Fuzzy curd: 

 Burning cauliflower may be avoided by cultivating cultivars that avoid planting in hot areas, provide enough nitrogen, and use suitable plant protection methods to minimize harm. This may be managed by planting a high-quality seed in a specific season and adhering to suitable cultural procedures.