Summary. The Brix content of pineapple fruit can be
non-invasively predicted from the second derivative of near infrared
reflectance spectra. Correlations obtained using a NIRSystems 6500
spectrophotometer through multiple linear regression and modified partial
least squares analyses using a post-dispersive configuration were comparable
with that from a pre-dispersive configuration in terms of accuracy (e.g.
coefficient of determination, R2,
0.73; standard error of cross validation, SECV, 1.01°Brix). The effective
depth of sample assessed was slightly greater using the post-dispersive
technique (about 20 mm for pineapple fruit), as expected in relation to the
higher incident light intensity, relative to the pre-dispersive configuration.
The effect of such environmental variables as temperature, humidity and
external light, and instrumental variables such as the number of scans
averaged to form a spectrum, were considered with respect to the accuracy and
precision of the measurement of absorbance at 876 nm, as a key term in the
calibration for Brix, and predicted Brix.
The application of post-dispersive near infrared technology to in-line
assessment of intact fruit in a packing shed environment is discussed.