Sometimes, a fruit that looks perfect on the outside hides a serious problem inside. Pixat is a physiological disorder increasingly concerning citrus growers and technicians in Spain. Even when the peel appears healthy, the pulp becomes soft, watery, and structureless — leading to significant commercial losses, especially in sensitive varieties such as Clemenules. Understanding its causes and acting early are essential to protect fruit quality and maintain profitability.
Pixat is not a disease, but an internal physiological disorder. Detecting it is difficult because the symptoms develop inside the fruit, while the exterior often remains visually normal.
Soft, watery pulp. When the fruit is opened, the juice vesicles break down easily.
Transparency segments. The internal tissue becomes almost transparent.
Healthy-looking rind. The peel shows no visible spots or damage, which makes detection in the field difficult.
Weakened or slightly fermented flavor if the process advances.
These symptoms can vary by variety and environmental conditions, but all affect the texture, taste, and juice quality. In packing houses, the disorder is often discovered too late — once the fruit starts breaking down during handling or storage, it can result in high rejection rates and financial loss.
Because pixat is physiological and not caused by pathogens, its occurrence is linked to the growing conditions and orchard management.
1. Overripening on the tree.
Fruits that stay too long after reaching optimal maturity are more likely to develop pixat.
2. Water stress.
Alternating between drought and excessive irrigation creates osmotic imbalance in the pulp, damaging internal tissues.
3. Nutritional imbalance.
Calcium deficiencies or excess nitrogen and potassium weaken tissue strength and promote the breakdown of juice vesicles.
4. Temperature extremes or fluctuations.
Large temperature swings during fruit filling and ripening disturb internal stability.
5. Genetic factors.
Some varieties are naturally more susceptible than others.
In essence, pixat arises from physiological stress — when nutrition, irrigation, and climate conditions fail to stay in balance, the fruit loses its internal structure even while looking fine externally.
Since it is not a disease, there is no curative treatment. The most effective strategy is prevention, applying good management practices that maintain the physiological stability of the crop. Since there is no direct treatment, prevention through proper cultural practices is the most effective strategy.
Harvest on time.
Picking the fruit at its optimal maturity stage minimizes the risk of overripening and internal breakdown.
Maintain steady irrigation.
Avoid alternating periods of drought and heavy watering; keep soil moisture consistent.
Balanced nutrition.
Ensure adequate supply of calcium and silicon, while avoiding excessive nitrogen and potassium.
Use of gibberellic acid.
Apply at the right stage and dose to delay fruit senescence and extend firmness.
Gentle handling.
Although pixat develops on the tree, rough handling during harvest or transport can worsen the damage.
Continuous monitoring.
Regularly inspect the internal pulp of sample fruits to detect early signs and take corrective action.
Together, these measures help stabilize fruit physiology, reducing the likelihood of pixat and improving overall fruit quality.
Pixat directly affects the market value of citrus fruit. Even if the fruit looks flawless, its texture and juice quality are compromised — making it unsuitable for fresh markets.
Common consequences include:
Higher rejection rates during sorting and packing.
Loss of commercial value, even for apparently sound fruit.
Extra quality-control costs for inspection and classification.
Moreover, because consumers associate external appearance with internal quality, repeated problems can harm a grower’s reputation. Managing harvest timing, irrigation, and nutrition carefully is essential to maintain both profitability and trust in the market.
Pixat is a silent challenge in citrus production — often invisible until it’s too late. But by understanding its causes and adopting preventive practices, growers can significantly reduce its incidence and safeguard the quality of their harvest.
Ultimately, success depends on continuous field observation and data-based decision-making, strengthening both the sustainability and economic resilience of Spain’s citrus industry.