SOME PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RADISH (Raphanus sativus L.) CULTIVARS

Three radish cultivars, Red Cherry F-1, Beyaz and Cherry Belle belonging to the different radish groups (Raphanus sativus L.) which dominate radish production in Turkey, were analyzed for several physico-mechanical (root dimensions, aspect ratio, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, projected area, shape factor, root mass, root volume, root density, bulk density, density ratio, porosity, dynamic of static friction, external colour values) properties. There were statistical differences between cultivars in terms of most of the properties. The average root mass ranged from 11.37 g (Red Cherry F-1) to 194.97 g (Beyaz). The bulk density, porosity and shape factor were determined as 452.12 kg/m(3) (Beyaz) - 470.08 kg/m(3); 52.28% (Cherry Belle) - 61.41% (Red Cherry F-1) and 0.779 (Beyaz) - 0.784 (Red Cherry F-1). The lowest dynamic coefficient of friction values were observed in steel surface for all cultivars. The chroma vulues were between 15.99 (Beyaz) - 46.05 (Cherry Belle).