Design, development and test of apparatus to measurement of electrical resistance and impedance of fruit

Hajiheydari, Fatemeh; Massah, Jafar; Haddad Derafshi, Mohammadali

doi:10.22059/ijbse.2013.36160

Design, development and test of apparatus to measurement of electrical resistance and impedance of fruit

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Former Graduate Student, Agricultural Faculty, Urmia University, Iran

² Associate Professor, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Agricultural Faculty, Urmia University, Iran

10.22059/ijbse.2013.36160

Abstract

Electrical properties of fruits are accepted indicators for detecting fruit quality. Electrical resistance
one reluctance can detect quality factors and are sensitive to variations in the concentration and state
of water. Therefore, these properties can be associated with maturity, damage, overripe condition,
decay or other quality factors. In most of previous research on electrical resistance and impedance
of fruits, sensors pushed into the fruit to measure electrical resistance of the sample between two
electrodes. Needle type electrodes usually are used which results in damages to the fruit. Thus in
every tests, samples should change. In this experiment, especial electrodes for measuring electrical
resistance were developed and used which did not damage the fruit. Electrical sensors for electrical
resistance measurement consisted of two copper plates. Fruit sets between two plate electrodes
where constant force was applied on it. The overall construction of the apparatus was made up of
the following main components: LCR Meter, Load cell, Indicator, Base, Frame, and Probes. Red
apples were used in this experiment. Electrical resistance measurements were performed at two
frequencies; 120 Hz and 1 kHz. Water loss of the whole fruit also contributed in decreasing the
mobilization of ions, thus, increasing of electrical resistance of the ripen fruit. The results indicated
that the relationship between the electrical resistance and the weight loss, during the storage period,
was also investigated. The results indicated that, the electrical resistance decreases by third degree
equation and the weight of apple decreases linearly with increase in storage period.

Keywords