Prediction and visualization map for physicochemical indices of kiwifruits by hyperspectral imaging.

Soluble solid content (SSC), firmness, and color (L*, a*, and b*) are important physicochemical indices for assessing the quality and maturity of kiwifruits. Therefore, this research aimed to realize the nondestructive detection and visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits at different maturity stages by hyperspectral imaging coupled with the chemometrics. To further improve the detection accuracy and working efficiency of the models, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projection algorithm were employed to choose feature wavelengths for predicting the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was designed to develop simplified detection models based on feature wavelengths for determining the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. The results showed that 32, 18, 26, 29, and 32 feature wavelengths were extracted from 256 full wavelengths to predict the SSC, firmness, L*, a*, and b*, respectively, with the CARS algorithm. Not only was the working efficiency of the CARS-MLR model improved, but the prediction accuracy of the CARS-MLR model for determining the physicochemical indices was also at its relative best. The residual predictive deviations of the CARS-MLR model for determining the SSC, firmness, L*, a*, and b* were 3.09, 2.90, 2.32, 2.74, and 2.91, respectively, which were all above 2.3. Compared with the model based on the full spectra, the CARS-MLR model could be used to predict the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. Finally, the visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits at different maturity stages was generated by calculating the spectral response of each pixel on the kiwifruit samples with the CARS-MLR model. This made the detection for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits more intuitive. This study demonstrates that hyperspectral imaging coupled with the chemometrics is promising for the nondestructive detection and visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits, and also provides a novel theoretical basis for the nondestructive detection of kiwifruit quality.

Nondestructive quality assessment and maturity classification of loquats based on hyperspectral imaging.

The traditional method for assessing the quality and maturity of loquats has disadvantages such as destructive sampling and being time-consuming. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to nondestructively predict and visualise the colour, firmness, and soluble solids content (SSC) of loquats and discriminate maturity. On comparison of the performance of different feature variables selection methods and the calibration models, the results indicated that the multiple linear regression (MLR) models combined with the competitive adaptive reweighting algorithm (CARS) yielded the best prediction performance for loquat quality. Particularly, CARS-MLR models with optimal prediction performance were obtained for the colour (R2P = 0.96, RMSEP = 0.45, RPD = 5.38), firmness (R2P = 0.87, RMSEP = 0.23, RPD = 2.81), and SSC (R2P = 0.84, RMSEP = 0.51, RPD = 2.54). Subsequently, distribution maps of the colour, firmness, and SSC of loquats were obtained based on the optimal CARS-MLR models combined with pseudo-colour technology. Finally, on comparison of different classification models for loquat maturity, the partial least square discrimination analysis model demonstrated the best performance, with classification accuracies of 98.19% and 97.99% for calibration and prediction sets, respectively. This study demonstrated that the hyperspectral imaging technique is promising for loquat quality assessment and maturity classification.

[Effects of the variations in precipitation and temperature on photosynthetic parameters and growth of Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings in Changbai Mountains of Northeast China].

Taking Fraxinus mandshurica, a main tree species in the temperate zone of Northeast China, as test material, two experimental sites were installed at the altitudes 740 m and 1200 m in Changbai Mountains, respectively, and three precipitation regimes including 30% precipitation enhancement (+ W), 30% precipitation deduction (- W), and naturally occurring precipitation (CK) were designed, aimed to investigate the effects of the variations in precipitation and temperature on the photosynthesis in Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings, with their growth, leaf photosynthetic parameters, and leaf soluble protein and photosynthetic pigment contents examined. Temperature variation had significant effects on the growth and photosynthesis of the seedlings. For the seedlings grown at altitude 740 m, their stem basal diameter, plant height, and leaf chlorophyll and soluble protein contents under the three precipitation regimes had significant increase, leaf carotenoid content decreased, leaf net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and stomatatal limitation all increased significantly, whereas leaf intercellular CO2 concentration and water use efficiency had significant decrease, as compared with the seedlings grown at altitude 1200 m. Nonstomatal factors limitation was the main reason for the decrease of the seedlings photosynthetic capacity. Precipitation variation had little effects on the growth and photosynthesis of F. mandshurica seedlings.

[Edge effects of forest landscape in upper reaches of Minjiang River].

By using GIS and RS techniques, the edge effects of forest landscape in the upper reaches of Minjiang River, Sichuan Province of China were studied on landscape scale. The results showed that there was a distinct boundary between forestland and farmland, with the vegetation changed significantly. The biomass at forestland edge was lower than that in forestland interior, with the edge effect width being 60 m, whereas the biomass in farmland exterior was higher than that in farmland interior, with the edge effect width being 60-90 m. Forestland-grassland boundary was naturally formed and changed gradually. The biomass at forestland edge was lower than that in forestland interior, while that at grassland edge was higher than that in grassland interior, with the edge effect being 60 m for forestland and 45-75 m for grassland. The edge effect of forestland-shrub land boundary was similar to that of forestland-grassland boundary, with the edge effect width being 60 m for forestland and 45-75 m for shrub land.

[Effects of sub-watershed landscape patterns at the upper reaches of Minjiang River on soil erosion].

Based on GIS, the spatial distribution of soil loss and sediment yield in Heishui and Zhenjiangguan sub-watersheds at the upper reaches of Minjiang River was simulated by using sediment delivery-distribution (SEDD) model, and the effects of land use/cover types on soil erosion and sediment yield were discussed, based on the simulated results and related land use maps. A landscape index named location-weighted landscape contrast index (LCI) was calculated to evaluate the effects of landscape components' spatial distribution, weight, and structure of land use/cover on soil erosion. The results showed the soil erosion modulus varied with land use pattern, and decreased in the order of bare rock > urban/village > rangeland > farmland > shrub > forest. There were no significant differences in sediment yield modules among different land use/covers. In the two sub-watersheds, the spatial distribution of land use/covers on slope tended to decrease the final sediment load at watershed outlet, hut as related to relative elevation, relative distance, and flow length, the spatial distribution tended to increase sediment yield. The two sub-watersheds had different advantages as related to landscape components' spatial distribution, but, when the land use/cover weight was considered, the advantages of Zhenjiangguan sub-watershed increased. If the land use/cover structure was considered in addition, the landscape pattern of Zhenjiangguan subwatershed was better. Therefore, only the three elements, i.e., landscape components' spatial distribution, land use/cover weight, and land use/cover structure, were considered comprehensively, can we get an overall evaluation on the effects of landscape pattern on soil erosion. The calculation of LCI related to slope suggested that this index couldn' t accurately reflect the effects of land use/cover weight and structure on soil erosion, and thus, needed to be modified.

[Quantitative determination of the depth of edge influence on soil moisture in pepper-forest boundary of Minjiang River upper reaches].

A typical pepper-forest boundary was selected in the arid valley of Minjiang River upper reaches, and the moisture content in 0-15 cm soil layer was determined by time-domain reflectometry (TDR) during drought, after rain, and different seasons. Moving split-window techniques (MSWT) was employed to detect the depth of edge influence (DEI) on soil moisture and its dynamic variation with time. The results showed that the changes of squared Euclidean distance (SED) curve on the graph tended to become stable when the window width reached 8 - 12, and DEI could be detected. The seasonal variation of soil moisture could be divided into three periods, i.e., rising period (January to April), peak period (May to October), and lessen period (November to December). DEI was smaller during drought, and increased after rain. The DEI on soil moisture ranged from 6 m in pepper field to 2 m in forest during drought and from 12 m in pepper field to 2 m in forest after rain, but ranged from 10 m in pepper field to 2 m in forest field within a year. DEI was different in different seasons, and was dynamic. Under such condition of soil moisture, the forest restoration from pepper land and the seedling planting were not ecologically reasonable. Reducing human disturbance and revegetating with natural shrubs and meadows could be more effective for vegetation conservation in the arid valley of Minjiang River upper reaches.

[Depth of edge influence on agriculture-forestry boundary in arid valley of upper reaches of Minjiang River, China].

By using moving split-window techniques (MSWT), this study estimated how far the edge effects penetrated the forest and agricultural fields in the arid valley of upper reaches of Minjiang River, southwestern China. Its aim was to provide general information on vegetation along edge to interior gradients in order to assist in interpretation and prediction of biological phenomena associated with agriculture-forestry boundary, and to improve current management practices in such areas. Three types of boundaries (10 transects) were investigated and sampled. The results showed that when the window width reached 6-10, the change of the SED curve on the graph tended to become stable, and one or two peaks occurred. The depth of edge influence was clearly different for different types of boundaries, and could be estimated within 50 m from the edge to interior. The depth of edge influence (DEI) on vegetation diversity almost varied between 12-30 m, mainly depending on the patch type, topography and microclimate, but seldom on slope orientation. Of the 6 forest transects in the three types of boundaries, the DEI was detected only in the forest part transects M2 and M6, but almost detectable in the agricultural part of all transects. MSWT was considered to be a useful tool for characterizing edge dynamics if enough data was available, and became a simple and powerful technique for analyzing the boundary. The results will provide further knowledge for understanding the interaction between forestry and agriculture in the arid valley.