Physiological Disorders
There are a number of non-pathological disorders seen
in marketed fruit (Paull et al. 1997; Sivakumar and Wall
2013). The disorders include the following:
Green, slightly sunken areas on ripe yellow fruit
are due to abrasion injury that occurs when fruit are still
green (Quintana and Paull 1993).
Unsightly skin freckles (small brown slightly raised
areas) that are more common on the side of the fruit
exposed to the sun and are seasonal, occurring when
rainfall and low temperatures occur 2 mo before harvest
(Reyes and Paull 1994). This disorder is non-pathogenic
and does not influence ripening or flavor.
Sun scald, a dark olive-brown discoloration, occurs
on fruit developing on trees with very sparse foliage; on
trees that are leaning over, with fruit directly exposed
to the sun; and where harvested fruit are left exposed to
the sun.
Blossom end defect can be severe at some times of
the year (Zee et al. 1989). The disorder leaves an open