Classification of Banana Fruit Maturity using zNose

A study was undertaken to classify the banana fruits based on their ripening/maturity by using zNose flavour detection technique. The quality parameters of banana fruits viz., respiratory quotient (RQ), total soluble solids (TSS), moisture content and firmness at each ripening/maturity stage were determined and the results were correlated with zNose flavour data. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the ripening/maturity stages of banana fruits and also to test the variability of the observed data. By using multiple linear regression (MLR), models were established to predict the fruit quality parameters. The coefficient of determination (r2) corresponding to the predicted respiratory quotient, total soluble solids, moisture content and firmness were found to be 0.93, 0.94, 0.96 and 0.95, respectively, signifying better prediction of the banana fruits into different ripening/maturity stages

Studies on correlation and path coefficient analysis on yield attributes in root knot nematodes resistant F1 hybrids of tomato

Abstract: Investigations were undertaken to develop F hybrids in tomato for high yield, processing qualities with resistance to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) by studying eighty hybrids developed, involving fourteen parents mated in a Line x Tester fashion (both direct and reciprocal crosses). Among the hybrid combinations, twenty-three hybrids were found to be resistant to root knot nematode under both natural condition in field and artificial inoculation in pot culture. These hybrids were test verified by raising again. Among the twenty three hybrids, CLN 2026C x SL 120, CLN 2026E x SL 120, LE 812 x SL 120 and CLN 1464A x SL 120 were found to be high yielding with resistance to root knot nematode along with good processing qualities. The yield contributing traits like plant height, fruit weight and quality traits like pericarp thickness, acidity, ascorbic acid and lycopene were found to have positive and significant association with yield per plant both at genotypic and phenotypic levels. The other resistant traits like root length, total phenol, orthodihydroxy phenol, IAA oxidase, chlorogenic acid and ascorbic acid in roots showed negative and significant association with root gall index, suggesting their role in root knot nematode resistance. These characters could be reliably looked for, while selecting a high yielding genotype

Mathematical Modeling on Drying of Tamarind Fruits

661-670Tamarind is an indigenous tree in India and every parts of the tree such as root, stem, fruit and leaves are widely used in nutritional, medicinal and industrial applications. The stickiness of tamarind fruit is a major concern during the deseeding process, and it can be reduced by drying. The tamarind growers and processing industries are still using the sun drying method, which is time-consuming and unhygienic that produces a poor-quality product. In this context, a cabinet type tray dryer was used to reduce the moisture content from dehulled and de-fibered tamarind fruit. Drying study of tamarind was conducted at three different temperatures (50, 60 and 70°C) with different airflow rates (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s). Different drying models were adopted for analyzing the drying kinetics of dehulled tamarind fruit under different temperature conditions. The highest coefficient of determination of 0.9998 and reduced Chi square value of 0.00012 was favoring the optimized drying condition based on Wang and Singh model. The optimized temperature and airflow rate were found to be 60°C and 1.0 m/s, respectively. For the optimized drying conditions, the corresponding quality parameters viz., L*, a* and b* values, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH were found to be 44.30 ± 1.16, 3.50 ± 0.11 and 13.2 ± 0.15, 25.60 ± 1.00 obrix, 17.40 ± 0.58% and 3.1 ± 0.08, respectively

Implementation of K-Means Clustering Technique in Banana Production of Tamil Nadu, India

Aim: The main objectives of this study are to make use of the K-Means clustering approach to cluster the Banana data and to assist with crop yield prediction. Study Design: One of the methods of Big Data Analytics K-Means clustering is usedto cluster the data set. Place and Duration of Study: So far, the period 2010-2020, time series data were collected from the season and crop report, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Chennai. Methodology: The horticulture industry has a significant impact on India's economic development. In the globe, after China, India ranks second in terms of fruit and vegetable production. Compare to the various fruits Mango and banana are one of the most abundant fruits in India. So, the Banana dataset were collected and dataset were clustered using the K-Means clustering technique and the optimum number of clusters were identify using the elbow approach. Results: According to these results from this study, there is positive relationship between the Area, Soil moisture, Maximum Temperature, Relative Humidity and negative relationship between Rainfall, Wind Speed and Minimum temperature related Banana production. Using K-Means clustering it divides the given dataset into three clusters in which cluster 3 contains high Banana production afterwards two and one. Conclusion: The selection of the most productive clusters is going to tell farmers on where to focus their efforts while planting crops in order to enhance productivity and crop production

Characterization of Attributes in Dehusked Coconut

Selected physical properties of dehusked coconut as length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, bulk density and true density were investigated. Compositional changes in coconut fruits, including volume and weight, shell weight, weight of mature coconut water, wet and dry flesh weight, thickness of the flesh and shell were also evaluated. The average fruit length, major diameter and minor diameter were 99.2±13.3 mm, 91.5±8.9 mm, and 89.5±8.7 mm, respectively; while the sphericity, true density, bulk density and surface area were 0.90±0.05, 998±68.8 kg.m-3, 483±37.3 kg.m-3 and 274.2±50.4 cm2 , respectively. The frequency distribution of the major diameter and the fruit mass followed the Gaussian model. Correlations between fruit characteristics were also determined. Results indicated that fruit weight and total wet flesh weight were closely correlated, and both of these characteristics can be used as an indicator of fruit size

The Drying kinetics of Cissus quadrangularis dried in a Fluidized bed dryer

Cissus quadrangularis is an extensively utilized medicinal plant in India which has numerous health benefits. Hence, the drying kinetics of Cissus was studied using fluidized bed dryer to identify suitable drying conditions and to understand moisture removal and its connection to process variables.  The present research aimed to determine a suitable drying model of fluidized bed drying of Cissus quadrangularis Linn., determine the effective moisture diffusivity of the drying process and the activation energy, and investigate the effects of temperatures on the drying kinetics of Cissus. The drying experiments were conducted at three different air temperatures (40, 50 and 60 ºC), bed thickness of 5 cm, constant air velocity of 8 m/s and 0.5-1 cm length Cissus samples. The experimental drying data was fit into thirteen thin layer models and the best model describing the drying of Cissus was selected based on the correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and reduced chi-square (χ2).  The drying process occurred in a falling rate period for all the drying air temperatures and a constant rate period was not observed. Among all the thirteen models tested, approximation of diffusion was found to explain the thin layer drying behavior of C. quadrangularis accurately. The effective moisture diffusivity for Cissus was in the range of 1.54 - 3.12x 10-10 m2/s  and the activation energy was 30.76 kJ/ mole, respectively.  Hence, fluidized bed drying is more effective for convective drying of Cissus and the drying models are useful for selecting the best operational condition for fluidized bed dryer and design of an equipment

A composite fall-slippage model for cliff recession in the sedimentary coastal cliffs

© 2016 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University A composite fall-slippage model is proposed in this study for the Tertiary sedimentary coastal cliffs of Varkala in the western coastal tract of Peninsular India which are retreating landwards due to the combination of several factors. The fall model in the present study accounts both spring seepage and wave action, resulting in undercutting and this fall affects only the topmost laterite and the just below sandstone in the cliff. Slippage in this area affects all the litho-units and hence the geologic characteristics of all the litho-units are considered for developing the slippage model. This mathematically derived model can be used in other cliffs exhibiting the same morphology as well as the one controlled by the same influencing factors. This model differs from other models in incorporating multi-lithounits as well as multi-notches. Varkala cliffs form a part of the aspiring geopark in the Global Geopark Network and hence a study on the cliff recession is a pressing requirement

Effects of Tray and Freeze Drying on Physico-chemical and Structural Properties of Fig Fruit Powder

A study was conducted on the drying of fig fruits using tray-drying [50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C for 3 h] and freeze-drying [(-)43 °C for 24 h] dehydration techniques. The physico-chemical properties of fig fruit powder were studied. Different temperatures and methods of drying had effects on the moisture content, water activity, physico-chemical properties, and structural properties. Moisture content and water activity were in the range of 6.5-8.5% (w.b.) and 0.40-0.60, respectively. Powders of 15- 30 μm size range and with a flaky texture had moderate flowability. FTIR analysis exhibited peaks of varied range. XRD analysis showed that the powders were predominately amorphous in nature, and C-type starch was present

Effect of Inorganic Fertilizer and Spacing on the Plant Growth of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) under Tamil Nadu Agro-Climatic Conditions

The dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) is a new emerging fruit crop, there is very less information available on the spacing and fertilizer dose requirements of this crop so the present study was carried out to find the effect of fertilizer doses, spacings, and interaction effect of both on plant growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricencis) at the Orchard, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. during the year 2022. The design of the experiment was a split plot with four main plots viz. M1 = 3.5 x 2.0 m2, M2 = 3.0 x 3.0 m2, M3 = 3.0 x 2.5 m2, M4 = 2.5 x 2.5 m2 and six sub plots viz. S1 = N540 P420 K360, S2 = N495 P385 K330, S3 = N450 P350 K300, S4 = N340 P260 K225, S5 = N225 P175 K150, S6 = N0 P0 K0 g per pillar was applied and replicate four times. A significant difference was observed in terms of vine length (m), cladode girth (cm), cladode length (cm), and cladode number when different doses of fertilizers were applied. The highest vine length (2.96), cladode girth (24.52), cladode length (67.21), and number of cladodes (67.48) were observed in S3 (N450 P350 K300). Similarly, the highest vine length (2.503) and cladode girth (19.78) were observed in M4 (2.5 x 2.5 m2). The highest cladode length (67.47) was observed in treatment combination M2S3. Hence, the application of fertilizer dose S3 (N450 P350 K300) and adoption of spacing M4 (2.5 x 2.5 m2) is good to enhance the vegetative growth characters of dragon fruit under Tamil Nadu conditions.&nbsp