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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

Defect Name

Blemish

Other Names

Russet

Russet oscuro

Subcategory

Light blemish; dark blemish

Type

Blemish

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024



 



Kiwifruit Proximity Mark

Defect Name

Proximity mark

Other Names

Pressure mark

Subcategory

Bruise

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

Can appear as elongated marks that look like cuts

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.

More Information

Can be a common GIB case for cuts. These are generally okay in packed grades unless the bruising is severe.

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024





Puncture

Defect Name

Puncture

Other Names

Piquete

Herida

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024




Fresh Cuts

Defect Name

Fresh Cuts

Other Names

Corte

Herida

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Fresh Scrapes​

Defect Name

Fresh Scrapes

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Color

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

Like fresh cuts, fresh scrapes are caused by mechanical damage in the field, or during harvest, transport, or post-harvest.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Fresh Broken Hayward 

Defect Name

Fresh Broken Hayward

Other Names

Hayward Mark

Hayward abierto

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

The Hayward Mark appears as a longitudinal scar from part way to the full length of the fruit.

Cause & Disease Development

The Hayward Mark is a genetic defect of the Hayward variety and occurs in the field.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Kiwifruit Hayward Beak

Name

Hayward beak

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

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.

Cause & Disease Development

 

More Information


Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024



Kiwifruit Broken Hayward Beak

Defect Name

Broken Hayward beak

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

The Hayward beak can snap off leaving a patch of exposed flesh that can lead to rot.

Cause & Disease Development

 

More Information

Generally identified as a puncture unless very fresh.

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024



Kiwifruit Old Punctures

Defect Name

Old Punctures

Other Names

Piquete cicatrizado

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

See punctures.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024



Old Cuts

Defect Name

Old Cuts

Other Names

Corte cicatriz

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

See fresh cuts.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

 Sooty Mold (Kiwifruit)

Defect Name

Sooty Mould

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

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.

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Bird Lime (Kiwifruit) 

Defect Name

Bird lime

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

Bird lime is bird excrement that occurs in the field.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024



Water Stain

Defect Name

Water Stain

Other Names

Marca de agua

Subcategory

 

Type

Blemish

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.

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Kiwifruit Rot

Defect Name

Rot

Other Names

Podrido

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Kiwifruit Softness

Defect Name

Softness

Other Names

Machucon

Punto blando

Blando

Subcategory

Soft spot; soft

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Kiwifruit Scale

Defect Name

Scale

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

Scale is the waxy covering of a sap sucking insect.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Kiwifruit Sunburn

Defect Name

Sunburn

Other Names

 

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

Symptoms and Signs

 

Cause & Disease Development

Kiwifruit sunburn is caused by an intense heat change, usually due to the sun.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Kiwifruit Flat Shape

Defect Name

Flat

Other Names

Planura

Subcategory

 

Type

Shape

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.

Cause & Disease Development

 

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

Kiwifruit Square Shape

Defect Name

Square

Other Names

Cuadratura

Subcategory

 

Type

Defect

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.

Cause & Disease Development

 

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Dropped Shoulder

Defect Name

Dropped shoulder

Other Names

Hombro caido

Subcategory

 

Type

Shape

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.

Cause & Disease Development

Poor pollination is thought to cause this defect.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

Dehydration

Defect Name

Dehydration

Other Names

Shrivel; deshidratado

Subcategory

 

Type

Shape

Symptoms and Signs

 

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.

More Information

 

Approved by

Dr. Chris Johnston, Manager, Applications Engineering, TOMRA Food

Last Updated

14 August 2024

 

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