ABSTRACT
Application of nondestructive sorting of fruits can be direct or indirect. Direct applications involve mainly objective means of establishing grades and quality of fruits and vegetables, as well as use of light-sorting and other nondestructive means for determining when a crop should be harvested or whether it should be marketed fresh or processed immediately. Indirect applications might be termed "research" usage of nondestructive sorting. Plant breeders would find nondestructive techniques useful for rapidly evaluating quality characteristics during the development of high quality cultivars. Physiologists could utilize it to rapidly determine the effects of treatments upon the quality of the commodity. Examples of development of techniques of light-sorting of blueberries and grapes for ripeness are discussed.
ABSTRACT
Theoretical basis is presented for determining Poisson's ratio in uniaxial compression tests of cylindrical specimens. A simplified measurement technique and instrumentation for obtaining the required parameters are described in detail. Experimental data for Centennial sweet potato flesh at 72°F and four moisture contents are provided and analyzed to give the time dependent master curve and the time-moisture shift factor; thus, the time and moisture influenced viscoelastic property of Poisson's ratio is completely specified.
