The Importance of Fruit Quality Control & Testing for Grapes

Common Grape Defects

• Undersized/Oversized
  Many farmers go to great lengths to get their grapes big and juicy! But while small grapes could be lacking in color or sweetness, oversized grapes may mean that they’ve been overwatered or that too many chemicals have been used. In addition, oversized grapes may have lower BRIX concentration and a sour taste.
• Color Defects
  Grapes can be green, red, yellow, purple, and pink! But a low color could indicate too much potassium or nitrogen, or could be the result of an imbalance in irrigation.
• Russet
  You’ll be able to recognize this problem by the distinctive rust-like colored stripes on your fruit. Also, in addition to russeting being non-appetizing, it can also affect grape quality control as it may be a sign of problematic environmental conditions or the result of mechanical damage.
• Deformation/Shape Defects
  There can be many reasons why a grape might have lost its plump or round shape, including pests (mite feeding damage), nutritional deficiencies, or toxicities.
• Sunburn
  Sunburned grapes can have a higher risk of browning or tasting bitter. In red grapes, sunburn is associated with decreased anthocyanin levels.
• Stains
  It’s not always easy to tell what causes stains on grapes with the naked eye. It could be the beginning of something more serious such as rot or fungus, or it could be caused by slight sunburn or russet. For this reason, in the case of stains, further grape testing should be done.
• Pests
  Birds, worms, or fungal damage is not uncommon in grape plants. Two examples are powdery mildew and sooty mold, both of which look like they sound! If left to spread, these are dangerous for grape safety, and could quickly destroy a grape harvest or yield.
• Insect Damage
  One of the most common forms of insect damage on grape crops is the mealy bug. This can come in the form of cottony egg clusters, eggs, or adults, and in some cases is a sign of the grapevine leaf roll virus. Other common forms of insect damage are caused by beetles and moths, and some of these are endemic.
• Skin Defects
  Technology helps to determine what causes grape defects on the skin of a grape. Anything from cracks and scars, to discoloration or insect damage. How can you know what you’re risking?
• Bruising
  Fresh fruit is always going to be very susceptible to bruising, and grapes are no different. Bruising could happen at any stage of the value chain, and the visible impact doesn’t always show up right away.
• Lenticel
  These appear as small, freckle-like dots. While they don’t impact grape safety, some people may consider them a defect because they affect the appearance of the grapes.
• Split Berries
  A split in a grape can happen when there is excess water. The cells inside the fruit expand to suit, however the skin of the grape is only elastic to some degree. This can happen naturally through rainfall, or as a result of excess irrigation.
• Watery
  Heavy pruning or a sparse grapevine can be two of the reasons why you might get watery grapes. Sometimes, if grapes are leaking water, they might appear cloudy or even mucus-like.
• Open Wounds
  Can develop during the growth process or as a result of mishandling during grape harvesting or grape picking. This can then cause problems such as water loss or pest infections like black mold.
• Decay/Rot
  Fungi can attack the fruit in various stages. This may develop, even after harvest, into decay. Sanitation treatments like fungicides can be helpful.
• Shatter
  This occurs when berries fall from the stem (also known as dry fall). This can be caused from rough handling of the stem or tissue crush of the pedicel that leads to water loss and oxidation. Shatter can also be climatic and result from a lack of water or inner sugar migrating problems. Pollination-derived shatter can occur when the cluster’s berries fall before they have time to grow, or when the flowers of the grapevine are not pollinated properly.
• Brown Berries
  Grapes can have a wide range of colors, but when your fruit starts to grow brown, it makes it less appealing for customers and can impact your price and profit. For this reason, it’s important to understand why your berries are brown ahead of time.
• Scars
  Scars can come from a variety of sources such as spray damage or mechanical damage. During scarring, berries can end up with tears, which are invitations for other rot and fungi, which can then easily spread throughout your crop.
• Softness
  Overripe grapes will cause the fruit to be soft to the touch, or to develop mushy spots. On the vine, this means that grape picking was not done in a timely fashion, or that the fruit were not given sufficient nutrients.
• Mold
  Mold is a common example of grape defects. One of the most likely examples is grey mold of grape, which looks exactly like it sounds and can quickly destroy a grape harvest.
• Cracks
  Cracks can come from a wide variety of sources, whether it’s pests like powdery mildew or insects, or over- or under-irrigation. Once cracks appear, this can also invite additional problems.