Non-destructive postharvest quality monitoring of different pear and sweet pepper cultivars

Postharvest quality changes of two pear and five sweet pepper varieties during cold storage (2±1 °C and 10±1 °C, respectively) and shelf-life (22±2 °C and 20±1 °C, respectively) by non-destructive optical methods (laser backscattering imaging, chlorophyll fluorescence analysis, surface colour measurement) and texture analysis methods (acoustic impulse-response technique, impact method) were determined and monitored. The rate of the change of ‘Conference’ pears’ Fv/Fm chlorophyll fluorescence parameter was lower than for ‘Bosc kobak’, referring to the cultivar characteristic and photosynthetically active chlorophyll content related maturity and colour change. Acoustic and impact stiffness decreased during shelf-life, referring clearly to temperature related textural change. Taking into account the seven different measuring wavelengths (650–1064 nm), laser scattering parameters showed significant and cultivar dependent changes versus time during cold storage and shelf-life. The used non-destructive methods were found to be suitable for objective sweet pepper quality determination. Cold storage combined shelf-life resulted in a relatively longer shelf-life, with a lower intensity and rate of quality decrease in time, based upon mass loss, stiffness, surface colour, and chlorophyll fluorescence changes. ‘Gigant’, ‘Carma’, and ‘Kárpia’ cultivars were found to be favourable, but ‘Kais’ and ‘Kun’ hot pepper samples were really sensitive to quality degradation

Quality changes of pear during shelf-life

The aims of our research work were the investigation of postharvest changes of pear samples (Pyrus communis cv. Bosc kobak) during combined cold storage and shelf-life (storage at room temperature), the determination of quality changes by mainly non-destructive methods, the modeling of the changes of the non-destructive parameters (acoustic, impact stiffness coefficient, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters [Fv/Fm, Fm/F0]), and multivariate statistical analysis of the measured and predicted data based on the data of the non-destructive texture analysis (acoustic and impact methods), chlorophyll fluorescence analysis and laser scattering measurement. Storage Time Equivalent Value (STEV) was calculated and introduced based on mass-loss analysis. The changes of the non-destructive parameters were analyzed vs. this virtual storage time (STEV). The changes of acoustic, impact stiffness coefficient and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters can be predicted by exponential function. The predicted time constants of the parameters were 21.0, 45.8, 47.1, 83.4, acoustic, impact stiffness coefficient, Fm/F0, Fv/Fm, respectively. The lower the time constant, the quicker is the change of the given parameter during storage, the higher is its sensitivity. By this point of view, the percentage mass loss related sensitivity to the characterization of textural changes, the predicted acoustic stiffness coefficient was found to be more sensitive than the impact stiffness coefficient. The Fm/F0 value characterized more sensibly the changes of the chlorophyll fluorescence than in the literature commonly used Fv/Fm. The non-contact laser scattering method based significant PLS models were constructed to predict the quality related pear characteristics (mechanical properties, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters)

Non-Destructive impact method for quality assessment of horticultural products

In the case of organic production the quality assessment of the fruits and vegetables is especially important. Monitoring of the maturation and ripening process, early detection of diseases, decision about harvest date and postharvest treatment need reliable, objective and – preferably – non-destructive quality testing methods. Dynamic hardness or stiffness measurement methods (resonance, impact, wave propagation) offer very useful tools in this field, but with strong limitations in applicability area and/or physical interpretation of the measured parameters. Our objective was to develop method and appropriate portable instrumentation to measure surface hardness – as quality measure – with a nondestructive method. The computer controlled instrument has an electromagnetically excited impactor fitted with a piezoelectric acceleration sensor, a signal conditioner and A/D converter. To ensure the uniform contact behavior (contact area) between the impactor and the tested produce of wide range of shape, spherical head was applied. Conclusively, Hertz contact theory is to be applied for evaluation of the impact signal. Instead of using empirical “hardness index” – as in the case of several existing instruments – our objective was the physical interpretation of the contact phenomena. The measured acceleration signal was mathematically processed to calculate real physical parameters (force, speed, deformation), and to characterize the process similarly to the widely used texture analyzers, penetrometers. A new hardness parameter – “dynamic elastic modulus” – was introduced. According to the methodological investigations, the measurement was found to be perfectly non-destructive for a wide range of products. Conclusively, the developed method offers a useful tool for quality evaluation of organic horticultural products

Modelling of apple slice moisture content by optical methods

Experiments were performed to follow the moisture loss of apple slice samples (discs of 3 cm diameter and 1 cm thickness) during the drying process. Different optical methods were tested in order to find a model for prediction of the moisture content based on non-contact measurements. Apple discs were dried in a hot air drying chamber for different periods (0–7 hours). The mass of every individual sample was measured before drying (initial mass), after drying (actual mass), and after the optical tests at the end of a 24 h drying process (final mass). Both the wet base and the dry base moisture content were calculated from the actual mass and the final mass of the samples. The optical properties of the samples of different moisture content were measured by two different optical methods. Laser induced backscattering method, applying 3 mW laser modules of different wavelengths, was used to generate the diffuse reflection pattern (halo) on the surface of samples and evaluate the halo properties with a machine vision system. Near Infrared Reflection (NIR) technique was also used to collect/measure the log(1/R) spectra of the samples in the 740–1700 nm range.PLS method with full cross-validation was used to predict the moisture content of the samples based on the backscattering data (quantitative parameters of the halo profile) and on the NIR spectra (raw and transformed log(1/R) data). Effective models (r>0.98, RPD>5) were found for prediction of the dry base moisture content of the samples based on both optical methods

Product and quality characteristics for predictive purposes: A case for cold storage of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.)

Reliable product characteristics are needed for the prediction of shelf life by mathematical models in the post-harvest sector. Exact knowledge of the nature of changes during ripening and storage in refrigerated storage is essential. Authors investigated physical, chemical and biological changes of field-grown, autumn-harvested food grade potato (cultivar Kondor) as a function of temperature and storage time and the market quality was determined by visual assessment. Most of the investigations were preceded by sampling and methodological examinations. The most appropriate characteristics for the predictive modelling were: water soluble solids content, total starch content, weight loss during storage, marketability of the product (visually assessed) and texture parameters: acoustic firmness factor and bio-yield (by Instron Universal Testing Machine). Components of complex impedance, except for some cases, would be unreliable factors in model creation