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Title: 10-MHZ TO 1.8 GHZ DIELECTRIC SPECTROSCOPY OF HONEYDEW MELONS

Author
item Nelson, Stuart
item Trabelsi, Samir

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2006
Publication Date: 9/4/2006
Citation: Nelson, S.O., Trabelsi, S. 2006. 10-mhz to 1.8 ghz dielectric spectroscopy of honeydew melons[abstract],September 4-7, Poznan, Poland. pp.250-251.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Honeydew melons were grown and harvested with a range of maturities for measurement of tissue permittivities (dielectric constant and loss factor) to study possible correlations between the dielectric properties and soluble solids (sweetness) for nondestructive sensing of maturity. Permittivities of tissue samples from 38 melons were measured at 25 degrees C over the frequency range from 10 MHz to 1.8 GHz along with refractometer determinations of soluble solids content (SSC), and tissue density and moisture content. A high correlation (r = 0.96) was found between SSC and the permittivity as expressed in a complex plane plot of the two components of the relative complex permittivity, each divided by SSC. Through this mathematical relationship, SSC can be calculated from measured permittivity values independent of tissue density, moisture content, and most likely independent of temperature as well. Moderate correlations were noted between dielectric constant and SSC at 10 MHz and between the loss factor and SSC at 1.8 GHz. Correlations between the dielectric properties and both moisture content and tissue density were very low. The correlation between tissue density and SSC was also very low. A high correlation was noted between SSC and moisture content with SSC decreasing as moisture content increased.