OPTICAL-PROPERTIES AND APPEARANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF TOMATO FRUIT (LYCOPERSICON-ESCULENTUM)

Characterisation of the optical properties of the internal structures of tomatoes enhances assessment of the composite appearance. Reflectance colorimetry and the Kubelka-Munk analysis to distinguish three distinct maturity groups of tomatoes were tested. Differences in the scatter, absorption and internal transmittance were found amongst the component structures of the intact tomato. Tomato fruit was also pulped and a range of dilutions prepared. The decrease in scatter, absorption and increase in internal transmittance with increased dilution suggests the importance of optical properties with changes in concentration.