Application of X-ray micro-computed tomography to detect bruise damage of pomegranate (cv. Wonderful) fruit

The key to extending the storage life and maintaining the quality of fresh fruit could rely on early detection and separation of fruit with mechanical damage such as bruising. A non-destructive technique was developed to detect bruise damage in bruised pomegranate fruit using a commercial X-ray micro-computed tomography (X-ray µCT) system. Pomegranate fruit harvested at commercial maturity were dropped from 100 cm onto a flat ceramic surface to simulate poor postharvest handling technique. Image acquisition with X-ray µCT was performed at 0 h (immediately after drop impact), 48 h and 7 days (d) after impact bruising. Non-dropped pomegranate fruit were scanned as control to allow for a good comparison of results. The X-ray radiation from the source operated at 245 kV voltage and 200 mA electron current produced optimal µCT and was used to generate two dimensional (2D) radioscopic images, which were reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) images for the detection of bruise damage. Two-dimensional images of X-ray µCT of pomegranate fruit scanned at 0 h and 48 h after impact bruising showed no evidence of bruise damage. Bruise damage manifestation was visualised by X-ray µCT after 7 d of impact bruising. Overall, application of X-ray µCT was not successful in detecting bruise damage of pomegranate fruit at early stage (immediately or 48 h after impact bruising).