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RESEARCH ARTICLE

NIR model development and robustness in prediction of melon fruit total soluble solids

J. A. Guthrie A B C , C. J. Liebenberg B and K. B. Walsh B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Delivery, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, PO Box 6014, CQ Mail Centre, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.

B Plant Sciences Group, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld 4702, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: john.guthrie@dpi.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(4) 411-418 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05123
Submitted: 5 April 2005  Accepted: 23 November 2005   Published: 27 April 2006

Abstract

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used for the on-line, non-invasive assessment of fruit for eating quality attributes such as total soluble solids (TSS). The robustness of multivariate calibration models, based on NIRS in a partial transmittance optical geometry, for the assessment of TSS of intact rockmelons (Cucumis melo) was assessed. The mesocarp TSS was highest around the fruit equator and increased towards the seed cavity. Inner mesocarp TSS levels decreased towards both the proximal and distal ends of the fruit, but more so towards the proximal end. The equatorial region of the fruit was chosen as representative of the fruit for near infrared assessment of TSS. The spectral window for model development was optimised at 695–1045 nm, and the data pre-treatment procedure was optimised to second-derivative absorbance without scatter correction. The ‘global’ modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression modelling procedure of WINISI (ver. 1.04) was found to be superior with respect to root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) and bias for model predictions of TSS across seasons, compared with the ‘local’ MPLS regression procedure. Updating of the model with samples selected randomly from the independent validation population demonstrated improvement in both RMSEP and bias with addition of approximately 15 samples.

Additional keywords: rockmelon, chemometric, fruit quality, Brix.


Acknowledgments

Funding support was received from Horticulture Australia (Project No. VG97109). We acknowledge the supply of fruit and support from the growers of the Australian Melon Association. Aspects of this work have been published in Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy, Essen, Germany (Ed. AMC Davies), 1998, under the title ‘Robustness of NIR calibrations for soluble solids in intact melon and pineapple’. Authors were JA Guthrie, BB Wedding and KB Walsh.


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