What is this? 

It is a deterioration that occurs in citrus fruits, lemons and oranges fundamentally. This is a consequence of the beating of the fruits by the branches of the tree they grow on.

Why does it occur? 

Strong gusts of wind can cause adjacent branches, both from the same tree and nearby ones, to hit the fruits, causing bruises on the fruit skin.

How is it distinguished? 

Although it depends on the intensity with which the branch has hit the fruit, these marks can present long shapes, like a lash, but rarely stand out for their depth.

What are the consequences on the quality of the fruit? 

Although the rameado can happen in the early stages of the fruit development, it is more frequent in bigger pieces (as the incidence area is greater). This means that it does not usually alter the growth of the fruit and therefore, its conditions.

Is the quality of the affected fruits lower? 

It’s not necessarily related. It is only an aesthetic anomaly which rarely affects the inner part of the fruit, although it will depend on the strength and depth of the “lash”.

What can we do to avoid the rameado? 

Good maintenance of the trees through pruning is fundamental. We need to eliminate the unfruitful and dry branches, in addition to those that may create problems in the future. Likewise, in the windiest areas, nets and other protective elements can be placed to protect the fruits. These are the so called windbreaks.

Does a rameado citrus last less? 

Due to the shallow depth that rameado generally has, it is not directly related to the shelf life of the product. However, antibacterial and fungicidal treatments can contribute to fungi getting inside the fruit, causing unwanted problems. Likewise, selection and trial are key when determining the quality of the fruit, and consequently placing it in the appropriate category.

It should be stated that varieties such as Fine lemon 95 tends to develop outbreaks with thorns. This often causes the deterioration of the fruit's rind due to "punctures" of the lemon, which leads to the rotting of the piece.