January 2016. After a heavy rain for 3 days, many rambutan fruit fell in Samoa. Nothing like this had been seen in 20 years. The trees had been cut back 2 years ago, and this was the first fruiting since then. No fertilizer has been applied or herbicide used around the trees. Any suggestions as to the cause?

A member wrote: Fruit drop is normal, but excessive fruit drop is abnormal, and has been attributed to extreme weather.See that attached from the Archives of the rare fruit council of Australia. It was said to have occurred because of an extremely hot period after a very good flowering when the fruit had set and were half-filled. http://rfcarchives.org.au/Next/Fruits/Rambutan/FruitDrop5-95.htm

Later, it was suggested to take a look at the fruit stalks, the peduncles to see if there are dark spots or lesions on them. On some species the peducles become infected by fungi and it can trigger abscission.