Monitoring of mango (Mangifera indica L.) (Cv.: Chousa) ripening using X-ray computed tomography

Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) is an important tropical fruit and its quality is driven by stage of maturity at harvest. Application of X-ray computed tomography (120 kVp and 30 rnA) in determination of ripening stage of mango fruit was studied. Computed tomography image analysis was introduced to sense the fruit ripeness of Chousa mango nondestructively. Fruits were evaluated for titrable acidity, total soluble solids, total carotenoids and pH during natural ripening by storing mangoes at room conditions (34-38°C and 42-48% RH) for 8-10 days. X-ray absorption of the mango fruit expressed in terms of CT number was used as an indicator to judge the titrable acidity, total soluble solids, total carotenoids and pH during natural ripening. CT number and acidity decreased while pH, TSS and total carotenoids increased during post harvest ripening. Linear relationships between physicochemical properties of mango and CT number at different storage interval could be used as a ripening indicator.