Hyperspectral imaging-based monitoring of apple fruit in storage and shelf life

With growing concept of digital twins, sensor-based predictive models are gaining more attention. In this context, hyperspectral imaging has shown a high potential as a chemical imaging tool of fruits. In this study, a snapshot hyperspectral camera was employed to monitor pectin and pigments contents of apple cv. ‘Gala’ during cold storage and shelf life. Apples were stored under either normal or controlled atmosphere for 2, 4, and 6 months. After taking apples out of storage, fruit were kept in shelf life conditions for seven days. Hyperspectral images of apples were acquired after removal from the cold storage and shelf life. Reference analyses of samples captured destructive measurements of pectin and pigments. Finally, Lasso models were applied to correlate hyperspectral images with the destructive measurements. Pectin and pigments were estimated with low measuring uncertainty. Particularly the results on pectin analysis were interesting, since fruit softening is closely related to the fraction of soluble pectin.