So those little dots on apples? You know, the little speckles on the skin? You probably see them many times. Perhaps you thought, the variety of apple has them, or, I don’t know, dirt that won’t wash off. I’ve done this too, honestly. I’ve walked through orchards and have looked at apples every day, for years, and still don’t really see them. I mean, I know they are there, but not in any sort of “oh this is important” way.
The reality is I didn’t put it together way back when because I had become slightly engrossed in plant physiology—or, more specifically so engrossed that I was purposely reading plant physiology textbooks about gas exchange in fruit tissues. After enough reading, I finally understood what these little dots are and what they were actually doing. The little dots? They’re not just part of charm. They are functional. They’re called lenticels. And, oddly enough, they are the apple’s way of breathing.
Why Apples Have Lenticels (and what they actually do)
So, lenticels. What are they? Technically? They are tiny pores, or lenticular shapes, just beyond the fruit skin. Like, little microscopic nostrils. I know that sounds weird, but I sort of picture them as the apple’s breathing holes. Their function is pretty simple—but, also, kind of important? They are able to exchange gases—in and out, O2 in, CO2 out. You know the drill.
It is easy to forget that even though fruit are picked, they continue to be alive—well, we don’t often consider fruit as being alive, as we generally think of fruits as inanimate snacks, but fruits are actively doing things. Even after they are picked, apple cells are still working, and to do so, they need oxygen, which is acquired through lenticels. If there wasn’t an exchange for oxygen, the tissue of the apple fruit inside would basically suffocate.
What Do Lenticels Look Like?
If you have ever held a Honeycrisp or Fuji–or even a Gala, the worst offenders–you have probably seen lenticels without realizing it. They are the little dots, sometimes raised a little, sometimes darker, almost like little pinholes. Some are like freckles, others almost like… well, scabs. Not in a dirty way, just in a textural way.
One of the more fascinating things–and I didn’t expect this until spending way too long considering lenticels on apples in a variety of conditions–is that the appearance of lenticels can differ widely based on the variety of apple, cultivation practices, and environmental growing conditions and even storage. I have seen apples from very humid regions with lenticels that puff out or assume a soaked or waterlogged appearance. It’s subtle, but it is there, and climate, moisture, and air circulation, as it turns out, really do matter for these little pores.
Lenticel Breakdown: When Spots Become Blemishes
This is when it gets a little tricky. Some of these lenticels–especially in cold storage and/or in excessively wet conditions–do not hold, once they become punctures. Instead of remaining lightly used and alert little breathing holes, they instead become ruined…may collapse, sometimes leakage, may lose partition because they were infected. It’s called lenticel breakdown, and it’s something growers really hate seeing. Once you see it, you will know it–those larger, sometimes darkened and sunk in patches that made the fruit appear bruised or just kind of off.
In lab studies, I have seen how this occurs–like, if moisture builds around the lenticels and there is not enough airflow, things can go sideways. The tissue breaks down, or pathogens infect the area. It may not be too dangerous to consume, but from a quality point of view it is bad news. People don’t want to buy apples that look weird. Even if the insides are good, the visual damage will take it off the premium shelf.
What Other Fruits Have Lenticels?
Apples aren’t the only ones doing this, by the way. Lenticels occur in many fruits–and even tree bark, if you start looking closer. Once you learn what to look for, it is really hard to unsee.
Pears? Yes. Probably Bartletts and Boscs the most–you can see the lenticels almost immediately. Cherries have lenticels too, they are small and more like little white dots in the smoother varieties. Mangoes have it too–white lenticels that show up as a subtle freckling. Same situation for avocados, which actually have some of the more obvious corky lenticels. And stone fruits like nectarines or plums? In humid locations, it seems like the lenticels tend to stand out more. The tree trunks join in, popping up on the birch and cherry. Their bark grows horizontal slits—that is, lenticels again. The same essential use: air in, gases out. Apparently, trees also need to breathe.
Why Lenticels Matter in Fruit Quality
But this isn’t just trivia; well, I guess so, but there is some real-world stuff tied into this. If you grow or store fruit at all, especially for any length of time, understanding lenticels and how to not ruin them can make a direct correlation to longevity of fruit, or whether that fruit will look good enough to sell or not. I have seen growers spend months adjusting their storage conditions all to merely delay lenticel degradation. It turns out deodorizing for humidity, and being gentle with fruit when you harvest them, can make quite a difference.
And for those of you who are ‘just’ consumers – like folks who just grab a few apples at the grocery store each week – the dots? Not really an issue. Lenticels are not anything to be concerned about unless the apple is clearly moldy, or sunk in or leaking juice (and, you know you would notice). They are not a defective part of the apple. They are part of the apple’s normal functioning. If anything, lenticels are indication this apple is still doing everything it is meant to do biologically.
The Tiny Breathing Holes You Never Noticed
It’s funny. You can learn about fruit trees, what makes fruit trees tick, and in the end, some of the most pertinent real-world stuff turns out to be the smallest, most forgettable things. Lenticels – these little dots we don’t take a second thought about – might just be keeping the whole show afloat.
So, the next time you pick up an apple and observe the speckles? Perhaps you shouldn’t just dismiss it as inconsequential. That fruit made it to your hand because it was actively breathing all the way there. It isn’t damaged. It is simply – alive. Still doing its job.
