ISHS Acta Horticulturae 674: III International Symposium on Applications of Modelling as an Innovative Technology in the Agri-Food Chain; MODEL-IT
NON-DESTRUCTIVE LASER SORTING OF WHOLE TOMATOES |
| Authors: | F.A. Navas Moya, A. Requena Rodriguez, L.M. Tomas Balibrea |
| Keywords: | lycopersicon esculentum, tomato, fruit quality, visible spectroscopy, firmness |
| Abstract:
Spectroscopy techniques are used as non-destructive optical methods for evaluating the internal quality of many horticultural products. Laser-based visible spectroscopy is an appropriate tool for tomato analysis. There is a great change in the visible reflectance and transmittance spectrum of the tomato as it matures, so internal properties such as acidity, firmness, soluble solids content, pH, maturity index and dry matter can be evaluated and correlated with visible spectrum changes and the maturity stage. An automatic sorting system based on a laser facility and on predicted internal parameters would increase production quality. Internal reflectance measurements at 45° on the tomato surface calculated by using partial least squares resulted in the maximum correlation coefficient. With only a laser at one wavelength it is possible to determine the firmness and explain a 64% population variability. Smaller correlation coefficients were obtained for the other properties previously mentioned. The method of acquirement of measurements and arrangement of the experiment is set out. | |
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