Design of a Multisensory Device for Tomato Volatile Compound Detection Based on a Mixed Metal Oxide-Electrochemical...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Sensor Technology
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Tomato production faces significant economic losses due to inadequate pre-harvest ripeness control and fungal infections.
• Aroma is a key indicator of tomato maturity and overall quality.
• Early detection of spoilage and disease is crucial for minimizing yield loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an electronic system (TOMATO-NOSE) for assessing tomato ripeness and detecting fungal infections.
• To integrate electrochemical sensors, semiconductor sensors, an optical camera, and a smartphone application into a user-friendly device.
• To provide farmers with a tool for real-time quality control of tomatoes.

Main Methods:

• Development of the TOMATO-NOSE system, comprising 12 electrochemical sensors and metal oxide semiconductor sensors.
• Integration of an optical camera for a lateral flow reader and a smartphone application for control and data management.
• Testing the system on tomatoes at various ripeness stages and with *Botrytis cinerea* infection.

Main Results:

• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of olfactory patterns and image data differentiated tomato ripeness states.
• The system successfully identified tomatoes infected with *Botrytis cinerea*.
• TOMATO-NOSE demonstrated effectiveness in distinguishing between healthy and infected samples.

Conclusions:

• The TOMATO-NOSE system is a valuable tool for farmers to monitor tomato ripeness before harvest.
• The system enables early detection of *Botrytis cinerea* infection, aiding in disease management.
• This technology has the potential to reduce economic losses in the tomato industry.