Articles
Fluorescence spectroscopy for non-destructive ripening assessment in ‘Rose Bright’ nectarine under deficit irrigation and different rootstocks
Article number
1468_16
Pages
109 – 116
Language
English
Abstract
Water scarcity increasingly constrains fruit production in semi-arid regions, requiring irrigation strategies that maintain yield and fruit quality while improving water-use efficiency.
This study evaluated the effects of irrigation regime (CTRL, RF) and rootstock (COR, NEM) on fruit growth and ripening dynamics of ‘Rose Bright’ nectarine and assessed the potential of fluorescence emission spectroscopy for non-destructive ripening prediction.
Fruit growth was monitored weekly, and ripening stage was quantified using the index of absorbance difference (IAD). Mean fluorescence intensity in the chlorophyll emission bands 675-685 nm (F680) and its ratio with chlorophyll emission in the 740 nm band (F680/F740) were used as indicators of chlorophyll.
Irrigation significantly increased fruit size, whereas rootstock effects were less consistent.
Fluorescence emission patterns were primarily driven by ripening stage, with progressive enhancement of red emission (≈650-700 nm). In immature fruit (IAD≥1.0), irrigation significantly affected F680 intensity and the F680/F740 ratio independently of IAD, indicating moderate modulation of fluorescence behavior beyond chlorophyll concentration without altering the overall ripening-driven pattern.
The grouped cross-validated PLS model showed strong predictive performance (R2CV=0.891; RMSECV=0.223), with chlorophyll-related red wavelengths contributing most to IAD prediction.
These findings support fluorescence spectroscopy as a robust tool for non-destructive ripening assessment under contrasting irrigation regimes.
This study evaluated the effects of irrigation regime (CTRL, RF) and rootstock (COR, NEM) on fruit growth and ripening dynamics of ‘Rose Bright’ nectarine and assessed the potential of fluorescence emission spectroscopy for non-destructive ripening prediction.
Fruit growth was monitored weekly, and ripening stage was quantified using the index of absorbance difference (IAD). Mean fluorescence intensity in the chlorophyll emission bands 675-685 nm (F680) and its ratio with chlorophyll emission in the 740 nm band (F680/F740) were used as indicators of chlorophyll.
Irrigation significantly increased fruit size, whereas rootstock effects were less consistent.
Fluorescence emission patterns were primarily driven by ripening stage, with progressive enhancement of red emission (≈650-700 nm). In immature fruit (IAD≥1.0), irrigation significantly affected F680 intensity and the F680/F740 ratio independently of IAD, indicating moderate modulation of fluorescence behavior beyond chlorophyll concentration without altering the overall ripening-driven pattern.
The grouped cross-validated PLS model showed strong predictive performance (R2CV=0.891; RMSECV=0.223), with chlorophyll-related red wavelengths contributing most to IAD prediction.
These findings support fluorescence spectroscopy as a robust tool for non-destructive ripening assessment under contrasting irrigation regimes.
Authors
G. Milazzo, M.G. OConnell, M. Rehman, R. Lo Bianco, A. Scalisi
Keywords
fruit ripening, index of absorbance difference, non-destructive measurements, Prunus persica, VIS-NIR spectroscopy, water stress
Groups involved
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