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Fruit Volatile Analysis Using an Electronic Nose
Published on: March 30, 2012
Classification of impacted blueberries during storage using an electronic nose
Necla Demir1, Antonio Carlos O Ferraz, Steven A Sargent
1Department of Chemistry, American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, PO Box 74, New Cairo 11835, Egypt.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
|April 27, 2011
Summary
An electronic nose (EN) effectively detected changes in blueberry volatile compounds caused by handling impacts. This technology can assess blueberry quality post-impact during storage.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Food Science
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Investigated the impact of mechanical stress on fresh blueberry quality.
- Utilized an electronic nose (EN) to analyze volatile compound changes.
- Assessed 'Misty' blueberries subjected to dropping and pouring treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effect of repeated impacts on blueberry volatile characteristics during storage.
- To evaluate the efficacy of electronic nose technology in detecting impact-induced quality changes.
Main Methods:
- Blueberries were subjected to three treatments: no drops, six pours, or ten drops.
- Fruits were stored at 2°C and 95% relative humidity.
- Electronic nose data were analyzed using discriminant function analysis.
Main Results:
- No physical damage (skin rupture, leakage) was observed after impacts or storage.
- Electronic nose correctly classified treatments with high accuracy (0-100%) from day 2 onwards.
- Classification rates ranged from 80-100%, with cross-validation rates from 75-100%.
Conclusions:
- Electronic nose is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of handling on blueberry quality.
- Changes in volatile profiles correlate with mechanical stress incurred during handling.
- EN technology offers a non-destructive method for quality control in blueberries.
