Non-destructive quality determination of pecans using soft X-rays

Use of soft X-ray digital imaging for non-destructive quality evaluation of pecans was explored. Unshelled pecans were imaged at various X-ray tube voltages from 15 to 50 kVp and currents from 0.1 to 1 mA. Pecan images with good contrast image were identified. The cavity inside the pecan shell and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Postharvest biology and technology 2007-09, Vol.45 (3), p.372-380
Main Authors: Kotwaliwale, Nachiket, Weckler, Paul R., Brusewitz, Gerald H., Kranzler, Glenn A., Maness, Niels O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Curculio caryae
digital images
Food industries
food quality
Fruit and vegetable industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
hulls
image analysis
Image processing
insect pests
Non-destructive testing
nondestructive methods
Pecan
pecans
physical properties
product grading
quality control
Radiograph
sorting
storage insects
stored product protection
stored products
weight
X-radiation
X-rays
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Summary:Use of soft X-ray digital imaging for non-destructive quality evaluation of pecans was explored. Unshelled pecans were imaged at various X-ray tube voltages from 15 to 50 kVp and currents from 0.1 to 1 mA. Pecan images with good contrast image were identified. The cavity inside the pecan shell and the nutmeat portion were segmented manually in the pecan radiographs. Percent nutmeat area, mean pixel intensity, and local intensity variation adequately determined nutmeat quality, non-destructively. Pecan nutmeat weight was estimated with an error of less than 10% from images taken at 35 kVp–0.75 mA, 40 kVp–0.5 mA, and 45 kVp–0.5 mA. Defects and insects were clearly differentiated in X-ray images after applying contrast stretching or high-frequency emphasis techniques.
ISSN:0925-5214
1873-2356
DOI:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2007.03.008