• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2006

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of cultivation time on the incidence of brown fruit stem (BFS) in glasshouse sweet pepper (cv. Special) and to investigate environmental causes of this disorder. The plants transplanted on 31 August (T1) showed more incidence of BFS than those on 24 November (T2) (6.1% vs.2.9%; P<0.01). The BFS symptom began to appear after completion of fruit enlargement, more often around fruit coloring period. Comparing the environmental factors between T1 and T2, with their data collected for 3 weeks around fruit coloring period, the factor that was most likely responsible for BFS incidence was found to be the night-time humidity deficit (HD) ($1.9g{\cdot}m^{-3}\;vs\;2.9g{\cdot}m^{-3}HD$). These results were reconfirmed as T1 was compared to the plants (T3) that were transplanted at a similar time of the following year to T1, but designed to reduce BSF by increasing air HD via heating at night. That is,T3 had much higher night-time HD than T1 ($5.9g{\cdot}m^{-3}\;vs\;1.9g{\cdot}m^{-3}HD$), and showed no incidence of BFS. These results indicated that, to prevent BFS incidence in the winter-harvesting sweet pepper plants, air humidity at night should be controlled low, especially for the fruit coloring period after fruit enlargement period is completed.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.313-321
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop products that prevent muscular skeletal disease of farm workers, which would bring improvement for an efficient harvesting work. Background: A pretest for product development and a survey research was carried out to inspect the problems of current harvesting work procedure. The product was developed and assessed based on ideas to supplement and improve these weak points. Method: A total of twenty men were recruited to evaluate the effects of harvest baskets on the upper-limb muscle activity, working hours. For the usability evaluation, electromyogram and working hours of previous working method (disuse of harvest basket, one-hand carriage of the basket) and new working method with the usage of newly-developed harvest basket was examined. The whole anterior deltoid, biceps brachii and erector spinae on both sides, which make a total of six muscle parts, were used for this experiment. The results were analyzed using ANOVA with muscle activity (%MVC) of each three forms of work and required work time from SPSS 18.0. Results: According to the test result, all muscles did not demonstrate any statistically significant difference, with an exception of the backbone erector (right). The muscle activity of backbone erector (right) in the work method that uses the harvest basket developed in this study was detected to be approximately 23% less than that of the previous working method. Moreover, compared to the previous working method, the required work time decreased to a statistically significant degree. Conclusion: As such, the decrease in the amount of waist muscle usage at harvesting work would enable the prevention of muscular skeletal disease and stabilization of lumbar spine. Application: Which in turn would increase the effectiveness and reduce personnel expense (labor costs) while enhancing productivity with a decreased working hours.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.147-151
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• 1999

Quality characteristics of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc. var. okitsu) harvested in early December according to production areas and sea level altitude of Cheju were investigated. Soluble solids and flesh ratio were $9.06{\sim}12.98,\;77.32{\sim}81.27%$ on citrus fruits harvested in orchards located below 100 m sea level (lower area), and were $10.16{\sim}12.26,\;75.00{\sim}81.55%$ in orchards 150 m sea level altitude (higher area), respectively. Acid content of citrus juice was $0.83{\sim}1.21%$ in fruits harvested in lower area, and was $0.94{\sim}1.34%$ in higher area except Hankyung-myun area. The differences of soluble solids and acid contents by harvesting periods for 10 days were 0.91 and 0.82 for soluble solids; 0.15 and 0.13% for acid contents, respectively. In proportion to late harvesting, Brix/acid ratio and fruit quality were improving. Soluble solids of fruits harvested from lower area were higher than those of fruits from higher area, but acid contents were lower in fruits from lower area than in fruits from higher area. In sensory evaluation on fruit appearence, the differences between two altitudes were not clear, but panelists marked higher points on fruits harvested in main production areas, Seogwipo-si and Namwon-eup which are southern areas. Fruit quality harvested in Seogwipo-si areas showed better quality than fruits from other harvested areas.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.911-926
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• 2021

We devised a grape variety model to estimate the impact of lowering the Shine Muscat quality level on the grape market. Shine Muscat has become a popular grape variety in Korea. Accordingly, the area devoted to the harvesting of Shine Muscat has increased dramatically since 2016. Our study examines how a reduction in the quality of Shine Muscat affects other grapes such as Campbell Early, giant peak, and Muscat Bailey A (MBA). The Armington model was used to impose consumer preferences and product differentiation assumptions. We found that a decrease in the consumer preference for Shine Muscat realized by lowering the quality of Shine Muscat largely reduces the price of this variety. Also, the prices of other grape varieties fell via a substitute effect. Moreover, if grape varieties were more differentiated, the reduction in the price of Shine Muscat would be greater, while the decreases in the prices of other grape varieties would be smaller. These results imply that farmers of Shine Muscat must continue with quality management efforts to avoid the negative effect of changing consumer behavior with regard to Shine Muscat against a reduction in its quality. Our model introduces a product differentiation model for the fruit market and helps policymakers and farmers understand the impact of changing market conditions in the fruit market.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.349-358
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• 2014

This study was conducted to determine the impact of elevated temperature in growing season on the growth and fruit quality of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) by cultivating pepper in the temperature gradient tunnels. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and total leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight increased at ambient $+2^{\circ}C$ temperature, whereas each leaf area decreased as temperature increased. The plants grown under ambient $+2^{\circ}C$ temperature showed the greatest number of flower and fruit. Fruit weight, fruit length and fruit diameter decreased as the temperature increasing gradually. Total fruit number, total fruit weight and total dry fruit weight was the highest at ambient $+2^{\circ}C$ temperature. Major free sugars of red pepper fruit were fructose and glucose. Free sugar content of red pepper according to the differences in harvesting times and in growth temperature showed a little differences. The yield of red pepper fruit at ambient $+2^{\circ}C$ temperature increased by 13% compared with the control. However, the yield of red pepper fruit at ambient $+4^{\circ}C$ temperature decreased by 20% as compared to control. Non-marketable fruits (diseased fruit, malformed fruit and small sized fruit) increased as the temperature rised.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2012

Purpose: In near infrared spectroscopy, interactance configuration of a light source and a spectrometer probe can provide more information regarding fruit internal attributes, compared to reflectance and transmittance configuration. However, there is no through study on the parameters of interactance measurement setup. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the parameters on the estimation of soluble solids content (SSC) and firmness of muskmelons. Methods: Melon samples were taken from greenhouses at three different harvesting seasons. The prediction models were developed at three distances of 2, 5, and 8 cm between the light source and the spectrometer probe, three measurement points of 2, 3, and 6 evenly distributed on each sample, and different number of fruit samples for calibration models. The performance of the models was compared. Results: In the test at the three distances, the best results were found at a 5 cm distance. The coefficient of determination ($R_{cv}{^2}$) values of the cross-validation were 0.717 (standard error of prediction, SEP=$1.16^{\circ}Brix$) and 0.504 (SEP=4.31 N) for the estimation of SSC and firmness, respectively. The minimum measurement point required to fully represent the spectral characteristics of each fruit sample was 3. The highest $R_{cv}{^2}$ values were 0.736 (SEP=$0.87^{\circ}Brix$) and 0.644 (SEP=4.16 N) for the estimation of SSC and firmness, respectively. The performance of the models began to be saturated when 60 fruit samples were used for developing calibration models. The highest $R_{cv}{^2}$ of 0.713 (SEP=$0.88^{\circ}Brix$) and 0.750 (SEP=3.30 N) for the estimation of SSC and firmness, respectively, were achieved. Conclusions: The performance of the prediction models was quite different according to the condition of interactance measurement setup. In designing a fruit grading machine with interactance configuration, the parameters for interactance measurement setup should be chosen carefully.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2001

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different mulching materials on the growth and quality of oriental melon in protected cultivation. Soil temperature, plant growth and fruit quality were affected by different mulching materials, clear polyethylene (P.E.) film (control), clear inset between black P.E. film, green P.E. film. and recycled ethylene vinyl acetate (E.V.A.) film. The highest night soil temperature was at 20 cm depth under green P.E. film, but was at 5 cm depth under other materials. Difference of soil temperature as affected by mulching materials decreased with increasing soil depth. Plant height, number of nodes, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and relative growth rate (RGR) at 30 days after transplanting were significantly greater in the recycled E.V.A. film treatment than in the other treatments. Fresh weight of weeds growth under the mulching materials was not affected by mulching material at 30 days after transplanting. However, it was the greatest under clear P.E. film mulching at 90 days after transplanting. Harvesting time of recycled E.V.A. film was 2 days earlier than that of clear P.E. film. Difference in fruit weight and length, and soluble solid content were not affected by the mulching materials. Marketable yield was 2,426 kg.10a$^{-1}$ in recycled E.V.A. film treatment, which was 6% greater than in clear P.E. film treatment.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2001

A grape fruit is required for a lot of labor to harvest in time in Korea, since the fruit is cut and grabbed currently by hand. In foreign country, especially France, a grape harvester has been developed for processing to make wine out of a grape, not to eat a fresh grape fruit. However, a harvester which harvests to eat a fresh grape fruit has not been developed yet. Therefore, this study was designed and constructed to develope a image processing system for a fresh grape harvester. Its development involved the integration of a vision system along with an personal computer and two cameras. Grape recognition, which was able to found the accurate cutting position in three dimension by the end-effector, needed to find out the object from the background by using two different images from two cameras. Based on the results of this research the following conclusions were made: The model grape was located and measured within less than 1,100 mm from camera center, which means center between two cameras. The distance error of the calculated distance had the distance error within 5mm by using model image in the laboratory. The image processing system proved to be a reliable system for measuring the accurate distance between the camera center and the grape fruit. Also, difference between actual distance and calculated distance was found within 5 mm using stereo vision system in the field. Therefore, the image processing system would be mounted on a grape harvester to be founded to the position of the a grape fruit.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.23-30
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• 2009

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of the gibberellin treatment on fruit enlargement and ripening promotion in 'Niitaka' pear(Pyms pynfolia). Fruit weight was similar between $GA_{4+7}$ treatments and the gibberellin-paste control, but fairly increased of fruit weight compared to non-treatment Most effective time for $GA_{4+7}$ treatment to increase diameter and length was on 35 and 40 days after full bloom, respectively. Shape index was similar in all treatments. Fruit enlargement at the period of early growth, $GA_{4+7}$ 2.4% treatment was remarkably effective than $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ 2.7% treatment or non-treatment However at the period of maturity, $GA_{4+7}$ 2.4% treatment and $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ 2.7% treatment showed little differences in fruit enlargement and coloring. In maturing promotion effect, young fruit treated with $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ showed similar fruit coloring to ethephon treatment on 35 days after full bloom, and both of those treatments promoted fruit coloring than non- treatment about 6 days. $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ treatments resulted higher solid content and decreased acidity than non-treatment However, there was no differences in fruit hardness comparing to non-treatment As a result, gibberellin was most effective in fruit enlargement, so as all $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ treatments were more effective on fruit enlargement than ethephon treatment or non-treatment Specifically, when $GA_{3}+GA_{4+7}$ was treated 35days after full bloom of flower, the diameter, the length and the shape of fruit index were best, and fruit coloring was good as well.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-17
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• 1998

In order to provide cool night to strawberry plant with cool air and water, an abandoned cool mine was utilized. It's effects on flower induction and fruit yield in 4 different cultivars were examined. After 70 days of transplanting, flowering frequency was below 65% and 100% in control and treatment of night cooling, respectively and regardless of cultivars. Number of flower buds and flower clusters were higher in treated plants compared with the control. Average time until flowering was much less in treated plants. In terms of yield weight and total yield, 'Suhong' was found to be the best cultivar, averaging 24.2g fruit. Cooling contributed to the 6-7 times of increase in total yield within the frame of harvesting times. The fruit were harvested at 80-97 days after transplanting.