Puffiness is impossible to detect under low severity until fruit are cut. Severe puffy fruit will appear to be flat-sided or angular in nature.

Puffiness symptoms can be due to any factor that affects fruit set, including inadequate pollination, fertilization, or seed development.

When fruit are cut, open cavities are observed between the seed gel area and the outer wall. Fruits are also very light in relation to its size.

Extremes of low/high temperature during fruit set, high nitrogen, low light, or rainy conditions can also cause puffiness and seed set.