OPTICAL METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE DEGREE OF MATURITY OF APPLE-FRUITS
Mechanical strength, respiratory rate, storage duration depends on the optical maturity of the fruit. An optical method for determining the maturity of apple fruits using the combined automated Amilon system is presented. The results of studies to determine the degree of maturity of 3 apple varieties in two ways: by the iodine starch index based on a comparison of stained samples with a 5-point scale, and on the combined Amilon system with Amilon 2.0 software from Isolcell (Italy) using digital image analysis methods are given. The objects of research are apple varieties Zhigulevskoe, Lobo, Ligol grown in the Pervomaisky district of the Tambov region. The degree of maturity was determined on the day of harvest in September 2019. Studies carried out on a 5-point scale showed that the fruits of the Zhigulevskoye variety had a maturity of 4.7 - 5.0 points, Lobo - 3.8 - 4.3), Ligol - 2.4 - 2.7. For long-term storage, it is recommended to lay the fruits of Ligol with the maximum potential for keeping quality. The advantages of determining the degree of fruit maturity on an Amilon device are shown: simplicity and manufacturability, high speed of analysis and obtaining ready-made data, high accuracy of determination, the ability to obtain information about the minimum and maximum indicators of the degree of fruit maturity in the test batch. The combined Amilon system allows for the correct analysis and can be recommended for determining the degree of ripeness of apple fruit