Validation study on light scattering changes in kiwifruit during postharvest storage using time-resolved...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biophysics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy is used for fruit and vegetable analysis.
• Decoupling optical properties makes it difficult to link spectral data to mechanical properties like firmness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a time-resolved transmittance spectroscopic method for assessing kiwifruit mechanical properties.
• To validate light scattering changes during kiwifruit shelf-life and cold storage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized time-resolved transmittance spectroscopy at 846 nm.
• Measured the reduced scattering coefficient ([Formula: see text]) in kiwifruit.
• Correlated spectral data with storage time and fruit softening stages.

Main Results:

• The reduced scattering coefficient ([Formula: see text]) decreased steadily during postharvest storage.
• This decrease was more pronounced under shelf-life conditions than cold storage.
• A mathematical model accurately classified kiwifruit softening stages with high accuracy (84% shelf-life, 78% cold storage).

Conclusions:

• Time-resolved transmittance spectroscopy effectively monitors kiwifruit softening.
• The reduced scattering coefficient is a reliable indicator of mechanical property changes.
• This method offers a non-destructive approach for quality assessment in postharvest fruit.