Articles
Predictive modelling of the ripening of tomatoes
Article number
1382_27
Pages
211 – 218
Language
English
Abstract
Tomato, like other climacteric fruits, undergoes major changes during ripening in its appearance, texture, flavour and aroma, accompanied by a burst in respiration and ethylene emission.
The ripening process normally starts on nearly full-sized fruit.
However, the prediction of the exact moment when the fruit growth phase converts into the ripening phase is still a challenging task.
Several independent mathematical models exist predicting fruit growth and quality development such as colour or firmness.
In this study, we present an integrated approach to predict the initialization of fruit ripening based on fruit growth models.
Using derivation of the fresh weight change we implemented a universal switch function triggering fruit ripening.
The proposed approach was tested on the Gompertz growth model linked to quality models on colour and firmness.
The integrated model (i.e. fresh mass, colour and firmness submodels combined) was calibrated and validated on experimental data collected over several years, at different times of the year and growth conditions.
In the experiments, the fruit were followed from anthesis until ripeness measuring fruit diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, colour and firmness.
The results revealed that fruit ripening can be predicted using the same trigger across all conditions.
However, different trigger parametrization was needed for firmness and colour, with firmness changes preceding colour changes.
This work offers a method generally applicable (after proper calibration) also to other cultivars or crops, allowing to use of different growth and quality models, not limited to fresh weight, colour and firmness.
The ripening process normally starts on nearly full-sized fruit.
However, the prediction of the exact moment when the fruit growth phase converts into the ripening phase is still a challenging task.
Several independent mathematical models exist predicting fruit growth and quality development such as colour or firmness.
In this study, we present an integrated approach to predict the initialization of fruit ripening based on fruit growth models.
Using derivation of the fresh weight change we implemented a universal switch function triggering fruit ripening.
The proposed approach was tested on the Gompertz growth model linked to quality models on colour and firmness.
The integrated model (i.e. fresh mass, colour and firmness submodels combined) was calibrated and validated on experimental data collected over several years, at different times of the year and growth conditions.
In the experiments, the fruit were followed from anthesis until ripeness measuring fruit diameter, fresh weight, dry weight, colour and firmness.
The results revealed that fruit ripening can be predicted using the same trigger across all conditions.
However, different trigger parametrization was needed for firmness and colour, with firmness changes preceding colour changes.
This work offers a method generally applicable (after proper calibration) also to other cultivars or crops, allowing to use of different growth and quality models, not limited to fresh weight, colour and firmness.
Authors
J. Šalagovič, P. Verboven, M. Hertog, B. Nicolaï
Keywords
ripening phase, firmness, colour, fruit growth, mathematical model, quality model
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