Granulation

[David Kipps]

I have seen the term "granulation" used for fruit that has stayed on the tree too long and started to dry out(?).  Is this the correct meaning of the term?  When this happens, am I supposed to find hard "granules" in the flesh (I haven't)?  Is it just dehydration?  I am playing with citrus in zone 7a, and sometimes miss picking fruits before freezing weather.  In such cases, usually the fruits will look dried out inside, even if the outside looks undamaged.  Is the term "granulation" the right term to use for these dehydrating fruits?

[Millet]

  I am not sure granulation is the best reference, but it is sure one of the symptoms.

[David Kipps]

Are you saying that granules (hard objects) are a sure symptom when people have fruit with "granulation"?  The fruits I've experienced do not have any form of grit or granules; only visibly dehydrated flesh that you cannot squeeze any juice out of. 

[Ahuacatl]

Granulation and drying out are two different things. Granulation is almost like the juice vesicles are full of gelatin. The vesicles are plump, not shriveled like in fruit that is drying out.  Granulation can start quite early during ripening.

[Ahuacatl]

Top left: drying
Top right: normal
Bottom: granulated fruit

[David Kipps]

Ahuacatl ,  Is there a picture associated with your post?

[Ahuacatl]

Having difficulty attaching the image.

[Ahuacatl]

Instructions on attaching images would be greatly appreciated.

[BP]

Instructions on attaching images would be greatly appreciated.

Once you click reply, below the white text box is a blue link that says "add image to post". At the site it takes you to decide what options you want and upload it and it will automatically put it in your reponse. Click my picture to see it circled in red

[brian]

Two quality issues I sometimes see on my fresh picked citrus fruit are:

Puffiness/drying - the flesh lacks juice and is like a dry sponge with little flavor.  It is still soft.  Typically the whole fruit is affected.  The peel tends to come right off as it doesn't adhere well to the flesh.
"Granulation" - Hard crunchy areas exist on an otherwise good quality fruit.  Often near one end.  The crunchy areas are not gritty like sand, more like breakfast cereal pieces.  The rest of the fruit is usually juicy and nice. 

I'm not sure if I am referring to the symptoms correctly, after reading these terms it was my best interpretation.

[akimbo]

Are you sure you didn't mean degranulation?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degranulation

[Ahuacatl]

Apparently the add image to post does not work on iPhone.

[Ahuacatl]

[Millet]

Great example of what your writing about.