![Several photos of limes and limes moving through an optical sorting machine](/cdn-cgi/image/w=950,q=75,format=webp/-/media/project/tomra/tomra/lemons-moving-through-toma-inspectra/header-lemon/header-lime.png)
TOMRA Food defect glossary
Lime Defects and Blemishes
About the TOMRA Lime Defects and Blemishes Glossary
The lime 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 citrus defects.
An example of a lime roughness texture collected by the TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Light Scar (Lime)
Defect Name |
Light Scar |
Other Names |
Russet Claro
|
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Blemish |
Symptoms and Signs |
|
Cause & Disease Development |
This defect is caused by friction resulting from the fruit moving against branches or other fruit due to wind. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Example of the light scar defect captured by the TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Dark Scar (Lime)
Defect Name |
Dark Scar |
Other Names |
Russet oscuro |
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Blemish |
Symptoms and Signs |
|
Cause & Disease Development |
Dark scars are caused by the friction created by lime fruit moving against branches or fruit. This is usually caused by wind. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Example of the dark scar defect captured by the TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Lime Oleo
Defect Name |
Oleo |
Other Names |
Oleocellosis, Oil spotting |
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Defect |
Symptoms and Signs |
Signs of oleo show up after several days in storage. |
Cause & Disease Development |
Oleo occurs when the oil sacks in the fruit are damaged by pressure. It usually occurs because the fruit was picked when wet. However, it can also be caused by degreening or be made worse by degreening.
|
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Lime oleo defect generated by the TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Juice Black (Lime)
Defect Name |
Juice Black |
Other Names |
Juice black, ugly black Macha Negra Piedra o granizo Donker merke of vrot Grave or macchia |
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Defect |
Symptoms and Signs |
|
Cause & Disease Development |
Juice black defects are usually a sign of rot or a large dark scar. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Puncture
Defect Name |
Puncture |
Other Names |
|
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Defect |
Symptoms and Signs |
A hole in the skin of the fruit |
Cause & Disease Development |
Caused by long stems creating mechanical damage. IT can occur during harvest, transport, post-harvest or storage. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Blanching
Defect Name |
Blanching |
Other Names |
|
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Color |
Symptoms and Signs |
A pale yellow color on found on dark green fruit |
Cause & Disease Development |
Blanching occurs when the lime doesn’t color properly during the growing process. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Pinto
Defect Name |
Pinto |
Other Names |
|
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Blemish |
Symptoms and Signs |
Pale yellow areas found as blotches around the fruit. |
Cause & Disease Development |
|
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Lime pinto defect captured by TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Lime Sunburn
Defect Name |
Sunburn |
Other Names |
Golpe de sol Quemaduras |
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Defect |
Symptoms and Signs |
A yellowish orange or brown color change depending on the severity |
Cause & Disease Development |
Sunburn occurs when one side of the fruit experiences a sudden change in temperature. This generally occurs when the fruit next to it is picked and creates a heating effect. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Lime sunburn defect captured by TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
Lime Rot
Defect Name |
Rot |
Other Names |
Clear rot: Andopdorido Vrot Marcio
Brown rot: Bruin
Black rot: sur |
Subcategory |
Clear rot; brown rot; black rot; sour rot; Alternaria; other |
Type |
Defect |
Symptoms and Signs |
|
Cause & Disease Development |
Clear Rot A translucent rot caused by the fungus Penicillium digitatum (green mold) or Penicillium italicum (blue mold) (Barmore & Brown, 1980). The Fungi infection results in cell breakdown particularly in the albedo due to the creation of pectolytic enzymes which degrade the pectin within the albedo cell structure. The initial infection is normally via an injury to the fruit such as a puncture but health fruit can be infected via close contact with infected fruit.
Brown Rot
Caused by fungi: Phytophthora hlbemalls or Phytophthora cltrophthora
Black Rot
Citrus black rot is caused by phylogenetically distinct lineages of Alternaria alternata
Sour Rot
Caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii fungi or a yeast infection of an existing rot. Only difference from clear rot is the sour smell.
Alternaria
Also known as stylar rot, it occurs when Alternaria alternata fungi is washed into the blossom as the lime fruit develops. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Long Stem (Lime)
Defect Name |
Long Stem |
Other Names |
Palo largo Tallo largo Lang stingel Gambo allungato |
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Shape |
Symptoms and Signs |
|
Cause & Disease Development |
Long stem occurs when the stem isn’t cut correctly during harvest. |
More Information |
|
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Lime Yellowing
Defect Name |
Yellowing |
Other Names |
|
Subcategory |
|
Type |
Color |
Symptoms and Signs |
Fruit is an unacceptable yellow color. |
Cause & Disease Development |
Yellowing occurs as a result of age during post-harvest or in storage. |
More Information |
It is a defect when the yellow color of the lime is plainly visible |
Approved by |
Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food |
Last Updated |
14 August 2024 |
Example of yellowing defect captured by the TOMRA Food Applications Engineering team
![](/cdn-cgi/image/w=935,h=567,q=75,fit=crop,format=webp/-/media/project/tomra/tomra/lemons-moving-through-toma-inspectra.png)