Sponsored by AvantesReviewed by Maria OsipovaFeb 20 2025
The use of spectroscopy in agriculture is becoming more widespread thanks to the work of researchers published in Postharvest Biology and Technology and the Journal of Food Quality.
Monitoring fruit quality during production, harvest, and marketing is likely to become increasingly crucial to the long-term viability of modern food production.
During production, essential data includes soluble solid content, water content, or firmness. Post-harvest, and from a marketing aspect, monitoring bruising, scald or frost damage, and rot enables producers to ensure uniform quality reaches the consumer while maximizing productivity.
Work with ‘Fuji’ Apples Improves Production
Researchers used near-infrared spectroscopy (600-1100 nm) on Fuji apples to develop an algorithm for correlating fruit parameters, such as solid content, water content, and firmness.
The researchers were able to extract sensitive wavelengths from this data to help forecast internal fruit quality. The team then explored various strategies for selecting relevant wavelengths to reduce the data set rather than monitoring the entire NIR spectra.
This strategy of selecting critical wavelengths to reduce the data set is essential for constructing portable and inline sensing systems, such as those being developed by Avantes' OEM partners.
The researchers used the AvaSpec-ULS2048 spectrometer, a Tungsten Halogen illumination source (AvaLight-HAL-S-Mini), 400-µm diameter fiber-optic reflection probes (FCR-7IR400-2-ME), and power supply.
Image Credit: Avantes
Work on ‘Jonagold’ Targets Post-Harvest Monitoring
A study published in Postharvest Biology and Technology examined reflectance spectra in the visible/NIR spectra using a spectrometer and camera system. By comparing the reflectance of damaged and healthy tissue, researchers identified four filters that predicted apple quality for this bicolor apple type.
When combined with process control systems, this filter combination promotes innovation in fruit sorting automation.
This investigation obtained reflectance spectra using an early version of the AvaSpec-ULS2048-USB2 spectrometer.
Avantes - OEM Partner for the Future of Agriculture
Avantes is dedicated to harnessing photonics technologies to make the world a better place by collaborating with innovators to increase agricultural output.
Avantes is the perfect OEM partner, with over 30 years of expertise in producing high-quality photonics equipment and close ties with researchers and professionals.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Avantes.
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