TOMRA Food Defect glossary
Kiwifruit Defects and Blemishes
About the TOMRA Kiwifruit Defects and Blemishes Glossary
The kiwifruit defects and blemishes glossary was developed by the TOMA Food Applications Engineering, Research and Development, and Product Management teams. The information on this page focuses on defects and blemishes observed globally and includes notes on regional naming conventions and variations of defects.
Learn more about TOMRA's sorting machines for kiwifruit defects and blemishes.
Kiwifruit Blemish
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Defect Name |
Blemish |
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Other Names |
Russet Russet oscuro |
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Subcategory |
Light blemish; dark blemish |
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Type |
Blemish |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Blemishes occur as a result of the friction created when the fruit moves against branches or other fruit. This usually occurs due to wind. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Proximity Mark
|
Defect Name |
Proximity mark |
|
Other Names |
Pressure mark |
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Subcategory |
Bruise |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
Can appear as elongated marks that look like cuts |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Proximity marks are a sort of bruise caused by the fruit being pressed against a tree branch or the edge of a bin. |
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More Information |
Can be a common GIB case for cuts. These are generally okay in packed grades unless the bruising is severe. |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Puncture
|
Defect Name |
Puncture |
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Other Names |
Piquete Herida |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Kiwifruit punctures occur due to physical damage caused by stems, vines, etc. This can occur in the field, during harvest or transport, and post-harvest. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Fresh Cuts
|
Defect Name |
Fresh Cuts |
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Other Names |
Corte Herida |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Fresh cuts are the result of physical damage caused in the field, during harvest, or during post-harvest. This damage is the product of mechanical damage caused by finer nails or equipment. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Fresh Scrapes
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Defect Name |
Fresh Scrapes |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Color |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Like fresh cuts, fresh scrapes are caused by mechanical damage in the field, or during harvest, transport, or post-harvest. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Fresh Broken Hayward
|
Defect Name |
Fresh Broken Hayward |
|
Other Names |
Hayward Mark Hayward abierto |
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Subcategory |
|
|
Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
The Hayward Mark appears as a longitudinal scar from part way to the full length of the fruit. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
The Hayward Mark is a genetic defect of the Hayward variety and occurs in the field. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Hayward Beak
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Name |
Hayward beak |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
The non-stem end of a Hayward mark can sometimes end in a protuberance that looks like a beak. Since this beak can eventually snap off and expose fruit flesh, this is an undesirable defect. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Broken Hayward Beak
|
Defect Name |
Broken Hayward beak |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
The Hayward beak can snap off leaving a patch of exposed flesh that can lead to rot. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
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More Information |
Generally identified as a puncture unless very fresh. |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Old Punctures
|
Defect Name |
Old Punctures |
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Other Names |
Piquete cicatrizado |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
See punctures. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Old Cuts
|
Defect Name |
Old Cuts |
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Other Names |
Corte cicatriz |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
See fresh cuts. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Sooty Mold (Kiwifruit)
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Defect Name |
Sooty Mould |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
Sooty mould appears as additional discoloration, such as dark spots or lines on the fruit surface. They often accompany juice-blotch stained areas. The dark areas may also appear mouldy or sooty. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Sooty mould is a fungal infection. Juice on fruit may support the growth of molds. Often in storage, molds such as Cladosporium and Alternaria species may develop on the juice-blotch stained areas. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Bird Lime (Kiwifruit)
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Defect Name |
Bird lime |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Bird lime is bird excrement that occurs in the field. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Water Stain
|
Defect Name |
Water Stain |
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Other Names |
Marca de agua |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Blemish |
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Symptoms and Signs |
Water stain appears as a brownish discoloration on the fruit surface. These may appear as teardrop-shaped or as large, darkened areas or blotches. It can cover a significant portion of the fruit surface. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Leaf and vine wetness from heavy dew, rainfall, or irrigation leaches tannins and minerals from dead organic material in the canopy and then drips onto the fruit. Water staining can also occur when harvested fruit gets wet during the handling and packing process. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Rot
|
Defect Name |
Rot |
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Other Names |
Podrido |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Rot is usually a fungi infection. The fungi is usually able to invade through physical damage to the kiwifruit. Rot can occur in the field or in storage. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Softness
|
Defect Name |
Softness |
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Other Names |
Machucon Punto blando Blando |
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Subcategory |
Soft spot; soft |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
This is bruising either from handling or as a sign of overripe kiwifruit. It can occur in the field, during harvest, transport or post-harvest, or in storage. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Scale
|
Defect Name |
Scale |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Scale is the waxy covering of a sap sucking insect. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Sunburn
|
Defect Name |
Sunburn |
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Other Names |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Kiwifruit sunburn is caused by an intense heat change, usually due to the sun. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Flat Shape
|
Defect Name |
Flat |
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Other Names |
Planura |
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Subcategory |
|
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Type |
Shape |
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Symptoms and Signs |
The cross section of the fruit is particularly elongated i.e., the major equatorial diameter of the cross section is average or larger than average and the minor equatorial diameter is smaller than average, giving it a flat appearance. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Kiwifruit Square Shape
|
Defect Name |
Square |
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Other Names |
Cuadratura |
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Subcategory |
|
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Type |
Defect |
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Symptoms and Signs |
The equatorial diameter of the fruit is larger than the stem diameter. This would be referred to as a Squat fruit in other commodities. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Dropped Shoulder
|
Defect Name |
Dropped shoulder |
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Other Names |
Hombro caido |
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Subcategory |
|
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Type |
Shape |
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Symptoms and Signs |
One shoulder of the fruit drops away from the perpendicular line running through the center of the fruit from the stem to calyx end, causing an obvious slope from one shoulder to the opposite shoulder. |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Poor pollination is thought to cause this defect. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Dehydration
|
Defect Name |
Dehydration |
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Other Names |
Shrivel; deshidratado |
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Subcategory |
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Type |
Shape |
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Symptoms and Signs |
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Cause & Disease Development |
Shriveling results from the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the fruit, generally occurring around the stem end and occasionally extending over the shoulders. Freshly picked fruit seldom have shriveling, but fruit removed from storage may show a slight to moderate amount of shriveling caused from dehydration. |
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More Information |
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Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
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Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
