THE VISUAL AIDS ON THE FOLLOWING 

PAGES ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY AND 

NOT INTENDED FOR OFFICIAL USE. 

TO PURCHASE OFFICIAL VISUAL AIDS PLEASE CONTACT

THE SPECIALTY CROPS INSPECTION DIVISION’S

EQUIPMENT AND FORMS DEPOT

USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI 

831 MITTEN ROAD, ROOM 200

BURLINGAME, CA 94010

PHONE: 650-552-9073

FAX: 650-552-9147

EQUIPMENT CATALOG
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA CITRUS

SOOTY MOLD: This disorder is caused by a fungus that aheres to excretions of the White Fly in Florida or Black Scale in 

California. It may occur as light deposits scattered over the surface of the fruit or as heavily concentrated areas at the stem 

end. Normal washing procedures usually do not remove all fungus deposits. However, they can be easily removed if scraped 

with a finger or knife. Sooty Mold is a permanent grade defect (not discoloration) and scored on an appearance basis. As a 

guide, allow an aggregate area 1” in diameter on a 27 size grapefruit, 3/4” on a 36 size and 1/2” area on a 48 size for the U.S. 

No. 1 grade. Alow an aggregate area 1-5/8” in daimeter on 27 size grapefruit, 1-3/8” on 36 size and 1-1/8” on 48 size fruit for 

the U.S. No. 2 grade. (Correspondingly greater or lesser areas allowed on larger or smaller size fruit.)

PHOTO I PHOTO II PHOTO III

PHOTOS NO. I & II – U.S. NO. 1, LOWER LIMIT

These photos illustrate areas approximately 3/4" 

in diameter on 36 size grapefruit.

PHOTO NO. III – U.S. NO. 2, LOWER LIMIT

This photo illustrates an area aggregating 

approximately 1-1/2” in diameter on a 32 size 

grapefruit.

CIT(CA&AZ,FLA&TX)-CP-1

Sooty Mold

September 1989

(Previously Sooty Mold & Smudged 

Discoloration, August 1977)
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA CITRUS

SMUDGED: This term is commonly applied to fruit more or less covered with a smoky deposit which cannot be rubbed off 

with the hand. This disorder is caused largely by smoke from orchard heaters during the season when frost has threatened.

(Florida and Texas Citrus only.)

Smudged Fruit shall be scored on the same basis as “Discoloration” and reported on the certificatge as “excessive 

discoloration” describing the shade of discoloration and showing percentage of surface affected.

Maximum extent appearance can be affected 

and still grade U.S. No. 1.

CIT(CA&AZ,FLA&TX)-CP-1-A

Smudged Discoloration

September 1989

(Previously Sooty Mold & Smudged 

Discoloration, August 1977)
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA CITRUS

These photographs illustrate various tages of oil spotting on Florida and Texas citrus.

Oil spotting does not ordinarily change materially under normal transit and storage conditions. Therefore, this defect is 

considered a quality factor. At times, however, the area of rind immediately surrounding or within the oil spots will start to pit 

and turn into skin breakdown. For illustrations of this type injury see visual aid CIT-(FLA&TX)-3-IDENT-B.

Photo No. 1 Photo No. 2

OIL SPOTTING

In the above two photos note that the spots have little depth with no pitting. The pebbly or granular texture of the ruptured oil 

cells is one of the best ways to distinguish oil spotting from skin breakdown.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT(FLA&TX)-1-IDENT-A

Oil Spotting

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-1-IDENT 

August 1976, Side I)
Photo No. 3

Extensive oil spotting on a Tangelo.

(Note the granular appearance of the oil cells and the absence of pitting).

Photo No. 4

Illustration of two types of oil spotting.

Right: the oil spot is slightly sunken and the oil from the 

ruptured cells has discolored the rind.

Left: the oil cells have little depth and are not discolored.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT-(FLA&TX)-1-IDENT-B

Oil Spotting

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-1-IDENT

August 1976, Side II)
These photographs illustrate various types of skin breakdown on Florida and Texas citrus.

Since skin breakdown is progressive it is a condition defect. Skin breakdown is a more serious 

defect than oil spotting as the lesions become larger, deeper, more discolored with age, and are 

frequently followed by decay.

Photo No. 1

Early stage.

Photo No. 2

Advanced stage.

This type of skin breakdown is known as pitting. Note the depth and angular outline of the 

spots.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT-(FLA&TX)-2-IDENT-A

Skin Breakdown

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-2-IDENT

August 1976, Side I)
Photo No. 3

Illustration of advanced stages of skin brakdown on a Tangelo 

(aging).

Photo No. 4

Skin breakdown occurring on the side and around the stem end of 

the fruit.

NOTE: Skin breakdown normally occurs as pitted or markedly sunken discolored areas.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT-(FLA&TX)-2-IDENT-B

Skin Breakdown

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-2-IDENT

August 1976, Side II)
These photographs illustrate the difference between oil spotting and skin breakdown on Florida and Texas citrus.

In Terminal markets individual fruit affected by both oil spotting and skin breakdown shall be scored against grade as follows:

1. If the oil spotting alone exceeds the limit permitted by the grade, handle as a quality defect and report as oil spotting.

2. If the oil spotting alone does not exceed the limit permitted in the grade but the area of skin breakdown is greater than 

the grade allows, handle as a condition defect and report as skin breakdown.

3. If neither defect by itself is sufficient to affect grade but together they materially affect the apeparance, handle as a 

condition defect and report as skin breakdown.

Photo No. 1 Photo No. 2

The original injury to this orange is oil spotting. However, the 

sunken and discolored areas at the far right and left of the 

affected area are skin breakdown.

Skin Breakdown at left, Oil spotting at right.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT(FLA&TX)-3-IDENT-A

Oil Spotting/Skin Breakdown

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-3-IDENT 

August 1976, Side I)
Photo No. 3 Photo No. 4

Left – This is an abrasion, possibly caused from being in contact 

with the container or the machinery used in harvesting and packing 

processes. The abrasion has ruptured the oil cells in a manner 

similar to oil spotting. However, the area surrounding the abrasion 

has become sunken and discolored making the injury look worse.

Right – Same fruit as in photo No. 1.

Skin breakdown foolowing oil spotting.

The original injury to this fruit was oil spotting. 

Subsequently, skin breakdown has started over the oil 

spotting.

NOTE: In the terminal markets, all the fruit in the above photos would be scored as skin breakdown and reported as a 

condition defect.

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY

CIT(FLA&TX)-3-IDENT-B

Oil Spotting/Skin Breakdown

March 1990

(Previously CIT-(FLA&TX)-3-

IDENT August 1976, Side II)
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 93 -- MELANOSE
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 94 -- DISCOLORATION
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 98 -- SPRAYBURN
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 179 -- COLOR
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 180 – CAKED MELANOSE
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 183 -- DISCOLORATION
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 184 – GREEN SPOT
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 185 – GREEN SPOT
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 186 – COLOR & GREEN SPOT
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 187 – DISCOLORATION
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 188 -- SCARRING
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 189 -- DISCOLORATION
GRAPEFRUIT

SLIDE 190 -- BUCKSKIN