Nondestructive Determination Method of Fruit Quantity Detection Based on Vis/NIR Spectroscopy Technique.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Food Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Tomato quality assessment is crucial for consumer satisfaction and market value.
• Traditional methods for evaluating tomato physiological properties are often destructive and time-consuming.
• Developing non-destructive techniques for rapid quality assessment is highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the relationship between Vis/NIR spectral data and key tomato physiological properties.
• To develop and validate predictive models for soluble solids content (SSC), acidity (pH), and fruit firmness using spectroscopy.
• To evaluate the accuracy and potential of Vis/NIR spectroscopy for non-destructive tomato quality assessment.

Main Methods:

• Collected spectral data from 200 hand-harvested tomatoes using a spectrophotometer.
• Utilized Principal Component Regression (PCR) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) to build predictive models.
• Validated models for SSC, pH, compression force, and puncture force against standard measurements.

Main Results:

• Developed highly accurate prediction models for SSC (r=0.90), pH (r=0.83), compression force (r=0.81), and puncture force (r=0.83).
• Vis/NIR spectroscopy demonstrated superior accuracy in determining soluble solids content (SSC).
• Models achieved excellent prediction performance with low standard errors of prediction (SEP).

Conclusions:

• Vis/NIR spectroscopy is a viable and accurate technique for assessing tomato quality characteristics non-destructively.
• The established models provide a reliable basis for predicting SSC, pH, and firmness in tomatoes.
• This spectroscopic approach offers significant potential for improving quality control in the tomato industry.