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Application of Spectroscopy for Assessing Quality and Safety of Fresh Horticultural Produce

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Nondestructive Quality Assessment Techniques for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

Recently, quality and safety of fruits and vegetables are a great concern to consumers. It is of great importance for the horticultural industry to produce high-quality and safe products for consumption. The main quality attributes required by the consumers are visual appearance, such as color, glossiness, surface texture, size, and absence of blemishes. There is also an increasing awareness on the chemical residues that threaten the health of consumers. Fresh produce is susceptible to a wide range of defects before harvest, at harvest, and during postharvest operations. Traditional detection of defects relies on manual and visual inspections. The majority of traditional quality assessment methods are destructive and offline in nature. Over the past few decades, research has focused on the development of diverse noncontact, rapid, eco-friendly, and accurate methods for examination of fruits and vegetables. The application of nondestructive spectroscopic techniques has gained popularity. Application of spectroscopy has been extended to the safety assessment and monitoring quality. This chapter entails the success of spectroscopic applications in fresh fruits and vegetables. It further discusses the measurement or operation principles, major components, steps of measurement, data analysis, important factors that need to be considered for good results, and applications of mid- and near infrared spectroscopy in fresh horticultural produce.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Science, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa

    Khayelihle Ncama

  2. Food Security and Safety, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa

    Khayelihle Ncama

  3. Discipline of Crop and Horticultural Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa

    Lembe Samukelo Magwaza

Authors
  1. Khayelihle Ncama
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  2. Lembe Samukelo Magwaza
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Correspondence to Lembe Samukelo Magwaza .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Oman

    Pankaj B. Pathare

  2. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khod, Oman

    Mohammad Shafiur Rahman

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Ncama, K., Magwaza, L.S. (2022). Application of Spectroscopy for Assessing Quality and Safety of Fresh Horticultural Produce. In: Pathare, P.B., Rahman, M.S. (eds) Nondestructive Quality Assessment Techniques for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5422-1_5

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