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Fresh fruit bruising caused by mechanical impact is the most problematic effect of mechanical postharvest processing of tomatoes. The conventional postharvest process of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) handling was surveyed from harvest to shipping preparation at a farm in Toechon in the Republic of Korea. Acceleration sensors located on the harvest boxes and fruit skin showed that the most severe impact forces (>10 g) occurred while fruit was moved in and out of the harvest box. Next, multivariate analysis was used to evaluate nondestructively the susceptibility of tomatoes to bruising by developing five estimation models incorporating quality factors and the presence of bruising resulting from peak contact forces. Linear regression models, artificial neural network (ANN) regression models, and a logistic regression model were built; the primary dependent variables were the rates of weight loss and firmness loss, and impactinduced bruising. The impact force was controlled by using a pendulum, which produced four levels of impact force on tomato fruit. Increasing the relative humidity (RH) and firmness, and decreasing the temperature and degree of weight loss decreased tomato fruit bruise damage. In addition, the proposed drop--impact measurement technique, with multivariate analysis, can be used to evaluate tomato quality nondestructively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discoloration and dehydration are crucial problems associated with quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Color and weight loss of the bell pepper were measured at different vibration levels, storage environments and storage periods. Vibration tests were carried out at different 'g' levels from normal to the worst-case for 180 sec on the initial day. The effect of two different storage environments (10°C, 90 % RH and 18°C, 40 % RH) for four time periods (1, 4, 7 and 10 days) were observed. At 18°C, 40 % RH storage environment, more weight loss and duller color were observed. In the 10°C, 90 % RH storage environment, the group of bell pepper sample having 12 g level vibration had significantly much more weight loss compared to other groups. In this storage environment, most of bell pepper samples maintained vivid color. Storage life and fruit quality of bell pepper were affected by storage temperatures, humidity and duration. The results showed that high g level vibration, high temperature, and low humidity environment during harvesting and storage process of the bell pepper should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]