AE—Automation and Emerging Technologies: Fungal Spore Detection on Tomatoes using Spectral Fourier Signatures

Fusarium oxysporum was detected on the majority of the tomato plantations in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, reducing yields to 50%. Fusarium rot and Rhizopus rot appeared in storage rooms producing high postharvest losses. Actually, it takes a day to determine whether the sample is infected, by isolating fungal spores on nutrient agar plates. Laboratory equipment capable of detecting spores quickly and with high sensitivity is required in packing houses to increase tomato quality and reduce postharvest losses. Visible and near infrared (NIR) spectra were obtained before and after inoculating tomatoes with Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer conidia. Spectral signatures in the frequency domain were analysed using discriminant analysis and models capable of detecting spore-free and inoculated tomatoes were obtained. Tomatoes containing Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer conidia on their surfaces were detected with high success rates and could also be distinguished accurately.