Effects of Cross-Head Speed And Probe Diameter on Instrumental Measurement of Tomato Firmness

Five textural characteristics , epicarp strength, deformation , firmness , toughness and penetration time were calculated from force/deformation curves obtained by pressure testing tomato fruits. The fruits were harvested at either the mature-green or red maturity stages. The effects of changing the probe diameter and cross-head speed were investigated on force/deformation characteristics of tomatoes. It was confirmed that increasing of cross-head speed and probe diameter highly significantly effect all textural of the characteristics mentioned above , except epiarp strength of red tomatoes at 200 mm minute cross-head and penetration time of red and green tomatoes after 200mm minute and 100 mm minute cross-head respectively.