| Author | Ruangsak Assawarachan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-99-08 |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Color and firmness, which are the most imp01tant parameters indicating the quality of tomato, were investigated to classify tomatoes into various maturity stages. Tomatoes of variety VF 134, 1-2 were harvested from a local field (Northern of Thailand) and were tested to monitor the maturity stages based on color and firmness. The color of tomato was detected using color image analysis by a CCD camera in RGB modes (Red, Green and Blue) and it was found that the RGB values had high correlation with maturity stages (R2 = 0.927). The results showed that CCD camera could be used to classify the tomato into six categories with e1Tor of 24.17%. Firmness of tomato was measured by Drop-Impact testing. Due to the firmness index was not highly con-elated with tomato maturity stages (R2 = 0.625), tomato was grouped into three categories (Firm, Half firm and Soft) and compared with manual grading. The percent correction was 66.67%. From the results of color and firmness measurement, the mathematical model of maturity stage was developed for indicating classification of tomatoes. The suitable model was determined in form of multiple linear regression with R2 = 0.948. The classification results into six maturity stages according to USDA standard were compared with manual grading, and determined 82.5% correct classification with all samples classified ± one maturity stage. The experimental sorting machine was designed and developed from the results obtained from color analysis and drop-impact technique. Microcomputer (80386-model) was used to control and analyze the estimated maturity stage. Tomatoes could be classified into four categories at 18 fruits per minute and the classification results obtained total misclassification of 15 .126%. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Athapol Noomhorm ;Jindal, Vinod K. (Co-Chairperson) |
| Examination Committee(s) | Rakshit ,Sudip K. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of the Netherlands |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |