- Email: [email protected]
Mechanical Damage to Apples during Transport in Wooden Crates
ARTICLE IN PRESS Biosystems Engineering (2007) 96 (2), 239–248 doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2006.11.002 PH—Postharvest Technology
Mechanical Damage to Apples during Transport in Wooden Crates T. Acıcan1; K. Alibas-2; I.S. O¨zelko¨k3 1
Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yalova, Turkey; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Agricultural Machinery, Uludag˘ University, Go¨ru¨kle-Bursa. Turkey; e-mail of corresponding author: [email protected] 3 Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yalova, Turkey; e-mail: [email protected] (Received 22 January 2006; accepted in revised form 14 November 2006; published online 22 December 2006)
Mechanical forces exerted on apples in wooden crates during the transport period from the harvest to market stage, as well as the damage caused by these forces were determined. Typical wooden crates as specified in Turkish Standard, TS 3766, and widely used in apple transport in Turkey were used in the study. Apples were placed into containers in three layers. Force measurements were made at a total of 21 measurement points. Containers were placed onto free fall, horizontal impact and vibration simulators in the laboratory and the free-fall force in vertical direction, horizontal impact forces in vertical and horizontal directions and vibration forces in vertical and horizontal directions were measured. The means of free fall, horizontal impact and vibration forces were used to calculate the values of mechanical forces acting on the crates during transport. The correlation between mechanical force and damage was linear in both apple cultivars and a significant correlation was found for apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. Significant differences between the damage at the lower and the uppermost layers were observed in both apple cultivars. r 2006 IAgrE. All rights reserved Published by Elsevier Ltd
1. Introduction In Turkey, 2 450 000 t of apple is produced annually. About 2% is exported and 98% is consumed by domestic market, which corresponds nearly to 7% of the total annual fresh fruit and vegetable production, and approximately 175% of our total annual fruit production (TSI, 1998; Gu¨ndu¨z, 1997). Apple cultivars such as Golden Delicious, Starkrimson Delicious, Starking Delicious, Granny Smith and Amasya are widely grown in Turkey. Total loss in horticultural products during the period from harvest to market in Turkey is 25% in average (Dokuzog˘uz, 1983). Although the losses in different products are at different rates depending on technical and physiological characteristics of the product, postharvest treatments, packaging and shipping conditions, the major part of these losses occur during transportation (Kaynas- et al., 1987; Maxie et al., 1967; McColloch, 1962; O’Brien & Gaffney, 1983). In a transportation test 1537-5110/$32.00
with apple cultivar Golden Delicious, damage rates of apples ranged between 4509% and 4511% for those placed into the crates reinforced with cardboard of 500 g/m2 at the base, and directly stacked into the crates, respectively (New, 1983). The shipping of fresh fruits and vegetables produced in Turkey from the production sites to the domestic markets is via highway transport, while 75-95% of the exported products are shipped in highway transport vehicles (DPT, 1983). Mean highway distance of the important apple production sites in Turkey to the probable markets is nearly 770 km. The longest highway distances between the production and marketing sites are 2103 and 1853 km for C¸anakkale—Hakkari and Denizli—Hakkari highways, respectively. The relative ratios of highway distances of these important apple production sites to the highway distances to all other centres are 74%, 21% and 5% for highway distances below or equal to 1000 km, between 1001 and 1500 km, and above or equal to 1501 km, respectively. This 239
r 2006 IAgrE. All rights reserved Published by Elsevier Ltd
ARTICLE IN PRESS 240
T. ACICAN ET AL.
situation indicates that shipping distances below or equal to 1000 km are important for our domestic markets in fresh fruit (Milliyet, 1997). The market value of apple declines due to the mechanical damage resulting from transport within the chain from the harvest to marketing (O’Brien & Gaffney, 1983; Kaynas- et al., 1987). This situation adversely affects the growers and consumers, as well as the national economy within the period from the harvest to the marketing of product and reveals the need for conducting the studies necessary for the solution of the problem. In this study, the effect of mechanical forces on the packed apples and the damage resulting from these forces were determined with the shipping tests carried out under laboratory conditions, and the relations between force and damage were shown statistically.
2. Literature review Aydın and Carman (1998) studied the damage resulting from the energy of collision between apple fruits, and determined the coefficients of collision and volume of damage due to different energies of collision of the apples using a pendulous arm for two different cultivars (Golden Delicious and Starking Delicious). The values for the coefficient of collision ranged from 035 to 052 and the volume of damage from 048 to 516 cm3. An increase in the energy of collision led to a reduction in the collision coefficient and increment in the volume of damage. The apple cultivar Starking was determined to be more susceptible to damage. Duvekot and Yu¨cel (1971) reported that the apertures between the wooden plates of crates should not exceed 5 mm, the corrugated papers used in packaging should be of 42 g/m2, the fruits should not touch the corrugated surface and the wrapping papers should be thin, sound, smooth and of 10 g/m2. The nest-pack system was more suitable than the diagonal arrangement system and the cell-pack was more suitable then the square arrangement in packaging, and the diagonal arrangement was more advantageous than the square arrangement with regard to damage, the cavity width should be 5 mm in cell-pack, and the apple grading should be done very well in the cell-pack arrangement. Fischer et al. (1992) determined the changes in fruit quality before simulated shipping, immediately and one week after by using artificial vibrations at 2–30 Hz after harvest, and detected the damage in the fruits at a height of 9–15 crates. They pointed out that the greatest damage occurred on the fruits in the uppermost crates at vibrations of 5–10 Hz.
Is-ik and Guler (2003) emphasised the importance of measuring produce dimensions in engineering studies by an image analysis technique for machine designs related to the particular produce. In their study, they calculated the surface area of Golden Delicious apples by using this technique. Kaynas- et al. (1987) investigated the sensitivity of some hybrid tomato cultivars to shipping and found that a cardboard box with plastic containers had the least damage. Kaynas- et al. (1990) applied an average of four falls per shipping container from the falling height of 30 cm in highway transport under Turkish conditions, which corresponds to a colliding distance of 660 mm with an average speed of 15 m/s based on the six replicates of horizontal impact tests in the transport vehicle. They used the amplitude and frequency values of 25 mm and 250 min 1, respectively, for Turkish highways in vibration tests for vibration periods of 20 min to represent long distance transports of 1000 km and 5,10,15 min for distances shorter than 1000 km, respectively. New (1983) reported that the shipping tests carried out under natural and artificial conditions were a reliable indication of the physical resistance of the fruits and vegetables being shipped in relation to their physiological ripeness, as well as defining the physical properties of the packing material. O’Brien and Gaffney (1983) reported that the extent of damage to tomatoes and processing peaches during packaging was dependent on the speed of impact or falling height to which the fruits were subjected and the physical characteristics of the surface onto which they fell, and that the rate of damage decreased as a result of covering the impact surface with a soft material. They also stated that the important point in transport was the percentage of fruits injured rather than their number, and the damage could be reduced by filling the spaces between packages during shipping and by cooling the fruit. Semerci and Der (1985) clarified the standard values of the vibration period for European test conditions in their study related to the determination of the package types used for fresh fruits and vegetables to shipping under artificial conditions: (i) 20 min vibration period corresponds to 1000 km of transport by road or 3000 km by rail; (ii) 40 min vibration period corresponds to 1500 km of transport by road or 4500 km by rail; and (iii) 60 min vibration period corresponds to longer transport distance by road or by rail. Vursavus- and O¨zgu¨ven (2004) reported that their study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vibration
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
frequency, vibration acceleration, packaging method, and vibration duration on the mechanical damage during apple transportation. The research was performed in three stages. Firstly, the distribution of vibration frequency and acceleration were measured on the truck-bed. Secondly, packaging transmissibility and vibration frequency sensitivity for all the packaging methods used in this research were measured. Thirdly, a laboratory vibrator, which simulates the road transportation under laboratory conditions, was used to obtain some factors influencing the mechanical damage during apple transportation. According to the results measured on the truck-bed, vibration frequency values were 819 and 1259 Hz for 5–10 and 10–15 Hz frequency intervals, respectively. Furthermore, vibration acceleration values were 033 and 063 g for 025–050 g and 050–075 g intervals, respectively. The highest packaging transmissibility was obtained for the volume packaging method, and packaging transmissibility was at similar high levels at the vibration frequency interval of 8–9 Hz for all packaging methods. Vibration frequency, vibration acceleration, packaging method, and vibration duration, which were taken into consideration as controlled variable parameters, significantly affected the equivalent severe bruise index at the 1% level of significance. Apples in the pattern packaging method had by far the lowest bruising, and the most suitable method for transit was pattern packaging.
3. Materials and methods 3.1. Materials Apple cultivar Granny Smith grafted on M9 rootstock and cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious grafted on MM106 rootstock grown in the orchards of Yalova Atatu¨rk Horticultural Research Institute and which show differences in their responses to decay and that are widely grown in Turkey were used as the research material. The fruits taken into the trial were handharvested and stored in cold store. Mean fruit diameter was 764 mm in cultivar Granny Smith and 743 mm in cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious (TSI, 1983; Tunalıgil, 1993). Both apple varieties were harvested at ideal maturity. Their starch scores were 7 for Granny Smith and 5 for Starkspur Golden Delicious based on the standards (1–10) developed by the Institute. Their flash firmness values were 81 and 72 kg, and their soluble sugar content (SS) where 128% and 125%. However, after the storage and before transit tests in December these values were 796 and 516 kg, and 133% and 142%, respectively.
241
Fig. 1. Standard wooden crate used in the research
In this study, the wooden apple crates defined in TS 3766 (standard-type package) and which is widely used in Turkey were chosen as crate material (TSI, 1982). The dimensions (width by length by height) of package are 400 mm by 600 mm by 340 mm externally and 375 mm by 570 mm by 240 mm, internally (TSI, 1975). Mean empty weight of apple crates are 6 kg. Total weight of the crate with fruit is about 30 kg for Granny Smith apples and about 265 kg for Starkspur Golden Delicious apples. The inner base and inner faces of crate is lined with packing paper of 49 g/m2. Wooden crate used in the research is shown in Fig. 1. A planimeter (compensating planimeter TYPE KP27) was used in determining the injured areas and total surface areas of fruits following transportation. A mechanical falling test simulator, mechanical–hydraulic horizontal impact test simulator and electromechanical vibration simulator were used in the artificial transport tests under laboratory conditions (TSI, 1988a, 1988b; ISO 1988). An electronic data collection system was used in the measurement of mechanical forces on the apples in the package. The way in which the force measuring unit (dynamometer) was placed into the package is given in Fig. 2. The data collection system had 01 g sensitivity and capacity to receive 100 data per second.
3.2. Methods In this study, artificial shipping tests were applied under laboratory conditions, in order to determine the mechanical forces on the apples in the trays, the damage
ARTICLE IN PRESS 242
T. ACICAN ET AL.
Fig. 2. Placement of the force measurement system into the crate (a) connection of dynamometer to the assembly unit and force measurement; (b, c) placement of the dynamometer at the sample point for force measurement in the crate; (d) suitable covering of the crate into which the dynamometer was placed
caused by these forces, and the relationship between them. The studies were conducted separately for the two apple cultivars. Starkspur Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples were hand-harvested in September 2003 and October 2003, respectively. The selected fruits were brought to the laboratory and placed in the storage room at 0–1 1C, 90–95% humidity until mid December 2003, when they were used in the shipping tests (TSI, 1974a; Eris- , 1989). Apples were placed into wooden apple crates in three layers of 40 fruits, giving a total of 120 fruits (TSI, 1988c; Yu¨cel, 1971). Some 45% of these fruits in the container were located at the edges of the container (67% at the long edges, 33% at the short edges), 10% at the corners and 45% in the middle parts of the container. The sites of the measuring points were selected beforehand at random, seven point from each of three layer of which three points (45% of 7 measuring points determined in each layer) are from the edges (two of them or 67%, are from the long edge; one of them, or 33%, is from the short edge), three points (45%) are from the middle parts, and one point (10%) is from the corner of the package (Fig. 3). The dynamometer was placed initially at these measuring points so that it will receive horizontal and vertical forces effectively than the crate was filled with apples before the transport tests.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1 e d c b a
Fig. 3. Measurement points randomly selected from each layer of an apple crate containing apples
The container was filled with apples, covered suitably from the upper parts than the transport test was carried out. Artificial transport tests were conducted in three stages, namely, the free-fall test, the horizontal impact test and the vibration test, successively, and the mechanical forces exerted on the apples in the package during tests were measured (TSI, 1989, 1996a, 1996b). The dynamometer was placed on the sample points in the package and the package was prepared for measurements.
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
In the free-fall test, the dynamometer was located in the package for each force measurement, and the vertical forever measured at each one of the 21 measuring points. Four force measurements were carried out free falls from the height of 30 cm for each measuring point. Arithmetical means of these forces were utilised as free fall forces (TSI, 1974b). The measurement of mechanical forces in the vertical and horizontal directions in relation to the direction and orientation of the conveyance plane was carried out from 21 measuring points. Impact data were obtained for each measuring point by setting the carrier free from a distance of 660 mm which corresponds to the speed of 15 m/s; and the forces in the vertical and horizontal directions were determined separately at each impact, with six replicates. For the vibration test, the dynamometer was located in the package, and the package placed onto the simulator longitudinally in the same direction as the vibration movement for the first vibration period of 10 min. The vibration amplitude and frequency were adjusted to 25 mm and 250 min 1. The vibration period was started with a chronometer (Kaynas- et al., 1990; O’Brien et al., 1963). The vibration value for the second period of vibration 10 min was obtained by replacing the package on the vibration simulator transversely to the direction of the vibration movement. Three horizontally oriented and three vertically oriented force measurements were obtained during the first and second vibration test periods, for each
243
one of the force measurement points. Arithmetical means of the forces measured at horizontal and vertical directions were taken separately, and the arithmetical mean of the resultants of these mean horizontal and vertical forces were utilised as the vibration force. After the determination of mechanical force values, the apples were placed into the same wooden apple crates used in the determination of mechanical force values, in three layers. Healthy fruits, which do not have any decay, bruises or defects such as sun scorching, were manually selected one by one after a careful examination. Fruits had a regular shape and they were nearly of the same size. The fruits were placed onto the same measurement points which were determined beforehand and at which the mechanical force values and transport tests were done after covering the package suitably. Subsequently the fruit samples were removed from the package and placed into the maturation room. The apples taken from the packages were kept in the maturation room at 20 1C and 90–95% RH for 7 days prior to damage assessment (Ertan et al., 1991; Sommer et al., 1960). At the end of this period, the fruit skins were peeled completely, shapes of the damage were traced onto acetate and thereafter, these shapes were carried onto thin onionskin papers and the damaged areas were measured with a planimeter (Fig. 4). The damage was calculated as per cent based on the total fruit surface. Analyses of variance were conducted for the forces for every apple cultivar using Mstat-C at a significance level of Po005 (Du¨zgu¨nes et al., 1987).
Fig. 4. Measurement of the damaged areas on fruits:(a, b) peeling of the sample fruit; (c) tracing of the shapes of injured parts onto an acetate; (d) tracing of the damaged parts onto onionskin paper; (e) measurement of the area of damaged parts using a planimeter
ARTICLE IN PRESS 244
T. ACICAN ET AL.
4. Results and discussion Mechanical force data belonging to the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious are given in Figs 5 and 6, respectively. The free fall, vibration and average force during transport were greater than the forces which occurred in the middle and the upper layers. Horizontal impact forces in the middle and the upper layers were approximate by the same as the forces in the lower layer. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) between the average free-fall forces exerted on the apples in the lower, middle and upper layers of the package in cultivar Granny Smith is given in Table 1. The mechanical forces exerted on the lower fruit layer, for cultivar Granny Smith with respect to free-fall forces at 5% deviation probability level were different and greater than the forces exerted on the middle and upper fruit layers. There were no statistical differences between the middle and upper fruit layers. The ANOVA between the horizontal impact forces found no significant differences between the fruit layers for apple cultivar Granny Smith in terms of the horizontal impact forces at po005. The ANOVA for the vibration forces and the average transit forces are also given in Table 1, respectively. The mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in apple cultivar Granny Smith with respect to average vibration
forces were significantly different from each other at the 5% level. The greatest forces were exerted on the apples in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces were measured on the apples in the upper fruit layer. Analysis of variance between the average free-fall forces, the horizontal impact forces, the vibration forces and the transist forces exerted on the apples in the lower, middle and upper layers of the package for cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious are given in Table 2. The mechanical forces exerted on the lower and middle fruit layers in the cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious were significantly different from the forces exerted on the upper fruit layer, with respect to average free-fall forces, at 5% level. There was no statistical difference between the lower and the middle fruit layers. There was no statistically significant difference between the fruit layers in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious at 5% level, with respect to the average horizontal impact forces. The mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious were significantly different from each other at 5% level, with respect to the average vibration forces. The greatest forces formed on the fruits in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces formed on the fruits which were on the upper fruit layer. The mean mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in the apple cultivar Starkspur
40 35 30
Force, N
25 20 15 10 5 0 e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 Lower layer
c6
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Medium layer
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Upper layer
d5
Measuring points Fig. 5. Mechanical force values formed as a result of transit test on Granny Smith apples: , average free-fall force; horizontal impact force; , average vibrational force, , average mechanical force during transit
, average
ARTICLE IN PRESS 245
MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
30
25
Force, N
20
15
10
5
0 e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Lower layer
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Medium layer Measuring points
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Upper layer
d5
Fig. 6. Mechanical force values formed as a result of transit test on Starkspur Golden Delicious apples: , average free-tall force; , average horizontal impact force; , average vibrational force, , average mechanical force during transit
Table 1 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) related to fruit layers with respect to mean free fall forces, horizontal hit forces, vibration forces and mechanical forces exerted on fruits in free fall test, horizontal hit test, vibration test and transport tests in apple cultivar Granny Smith Fruit layer Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average free-fall force, N
Average horizontal impact force, N
Average vibration force, N
Average mechanical force, N
2327a 1397b 1131b
1849a 2058a 1651a
507a 428b 302c
1561a 1294ab 1028b
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
Table 2 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) related to fruit layers with respect to mean free fall forces, horizontal hit forces, vibration forces and mechanical forces exerted on fruits in free fall test, horizontal hit test, vibration test and transport tests in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious Fruit layer Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average free-fall force, N
Average horizontal impact force, N
Average vibration force, N
Average mechanical force, N
1977a 1603a 953b
1674a 1550a 1820a
510a 489ab 351b
1387a 1214ab 1041b
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
ARTICLE IN PRESS 246
T. ACICAN ET AL.
Mechanical damage, %
Golden Delicious were significantly different at 5% level. The greatest forces were exerted on the fruits which were in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces were exerted on the apples which were in the upper fruit layer. The tests, the same as those carried out in the force measurements were repeated for the determination of the damage ratios. Regression equations for the correlation between mechanical force and damage and the regression lines given by these equations are shown in Figs 7 and 8, for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. From the results of ANOVA, significant differences exist between the fruit layers with respect to the damage caused by mechanical forces at the end of transport tests in both apple cultivars. The greatest damage took place in the lower fruit layers at the base of the crates, with mean damage values of 1096% and 839%, in the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively ( Table 3 ). Medium damage was recorded in the middle fruit layers of the crates with mean damage values of 818%
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
y = 0.9x − 3.4415 R = 0.9652
0
5
10 Mechanical force, N
15
20
Mechanical damage, %
Fig. 7. Regressional relations between mechanical forces and resultant mechanical damage for Granny Smith apples; R, correlation coefficient
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Table 3 Statistical analyses results between layer of damaged apples during simulate tests for Granny Smith apples and Starkspur Golden Delicious apples Layers
Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average mechanical damage, % Granny Smith
Starkspur Golden Delicious
10960a 8183b 5577c
8387a 5870b 4237c
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
and 587% for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. The least damage was determined in the upper fruit layers in the crates with mean damage values of 558% and 424% for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. From the results of the statistical analyses, the greatest damage which took place in the apple packages during transport tests became more severe towards the base of the package due to the effect of mechanical forces caused by the weight of fruits and the dynamic loads exerted during transport tests. Mechanical forces decrease towards the upper levels of the package, and, in contrast, damage values become smaller. It can be concluded from all these results that the damage caused to the fruits during transport could be minimised by reducing the mechanical forces exerted during the transport tests and hence exerted on the apples. For this purpose, the necessary regulations related to the packages should be organised and in this way, the package types which are of low-cost and which will minimise the damaging forces should be developed.
5. Conclusions y = 1.24x − 8.8856 R = 0.9725
0
5
10 15 Mechanical force, N
20
Fig. 8. Regresional relations between mechanical forces and resultant mechanical damage for Starkspur Golden Delicious apples; R, correlation coefficient
(1) Forces induced in the package lead to damage on fruits, and hence shortening of the shelf life. Crates should be designed in a way to minimise these forces. (2) Mechanical forces acting on the apples at the base of the package are of greater values than those on the upper layers. Materials that will absorb these forces should be placed onto the base of package. (3) Horizontal impact forces on the lower, medium, and upper layers had a similar overall affect. All the surfaces of packages should be lined with forceabsorbing materials in order to minimise the magnitude of this force.
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
The study shows that the elasticity of Starkspur Golden Delicious apples is far greater than the elasticity of Granny Smith apples. While the former suffers no permanent damage under the mechanical forces 717 N due to elastic deformations, the latter, however, is damage starting at 382 N. Future studies should include other popular varieties in Turkey so that elastic properties can lead to more proper handling of the apples to minimise transport damages.
References Aydın C; Carman K (1998). Determination of bruising resulted from compressional impact between apples. Agricultural Mechanisation 18th National Congress, pp 773–778. Tekirdagˇ (in Turkish) Dokuzog˘uz M (1983). Development of fruit storage in Turkey and its problems. Postharvest Technology, Marketing and Transportation at Horticultural Produce Symposium, pp 1–9. University of C¸ukurova, Agricultural Faculty, Division of Horticulture, Adana (in Turkish) DPT(1983). II. Fruit and Vegetable Project of Turkey. Horticultural Sub-Sector Major Plan and Sectorial Research, Vol. 1. Prime Ministry, Ankara (in Turkish) Duvekot W S; Yu¨cel A (1971). Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, p 50. Publication No. 23, Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute Yalova (in Turkish) Du¨zgu¨nes O; Kesici T; Kavuncu O; Gu¨rbu¨z F (1987). Methods of research and experiments (statistical methods—II), p 381. Publication No. 1021, University of Ankara, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara (in Turkish) Eris- A (1989). Packaging Employed in Storage and Transportation of Fruits and Vegetables, Problems and Solutions. MPM Journal No 1989-2.– 171, p 135. Ankara (in Turkish) Ertan U¨; Genc C; O¨zelko¨k S; Moltay I (1991). Studies on important disorders of some standard apple varieties. I. bitter pit. pome fruits res. Project Interval Rep, p 15. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Fischer D; Craig W L; Watada A E; Douglas W; Ashby B H (1992). Simulated in-transit vibration damage to packaged fresh market grapes and strawberries. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 8(3), 363–366 Gu¨ndu¨z M (1997). World trade of pome fruits and evaluation from Turkey’s angle. Pome Fruits Symposium, pp 295–304. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Is- ik E; Gu¨ler T (2003). Determination of Surface Area for Apples with Image Analysis Technique, pp 59–64. Publication No. 17(1) University of Uludag˘, Faculty of Agriculture, Bursa (in Turkish) ISO (1988). Recommendation on the standardization of packaging for the international transport of fresh or refrigerated fruit and vegetables, under the OECD scheme for the application of international standards for fruit and vegetables. Manual on the Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, pp 155–160. International Trade Centre ISO2247 UNCTAD/GATT, Geneva
247
Kaynas- K; Semerci E; Bas- T (1987). A Study on Suitability of Some Tomato Varieties for Transit under Normal and Simulated Conditions, Vol. 16 (1–2), 56–57. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute Yalova (in Turkish) Kaynas- K; Su¨rmeli N; Tu¨rkes- N (1990). A study of Sencan 9 and H-2274 tomato varieties for transit under normal and simulated conditions. Foot Industry Journal, 4(1), 51–56 (in Turkish) Maxie E C; Sommer N F; Mitchell F G (1967). The postharvest scientist’s view of some problems in perishables handling. Proceeding of the Fruit and Vegetables Perishables Handling Conference pp 5–9, USA McColloch L P (1962). Bruising damage of tomatoes. Report No. 513, USDA Marketing Research USA. Milliyet (1997). Highway Map of Turkey. Milliyet Newspaper Pub. Approved by State Map Department (in Turkish) New J H (1983). Reports on visits to Turkey to review the packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables. Report No. 1170 (A). Tropical Development Research Institute England. O’Brien M; Claypool L L; Leonard J (1963). Effect of mechanical vibration on fruit damage during transportation with special reference to cling peaches. Food Technology, 17(12), 106–109 O’Brien M; Gaffney J J (1983). Postharvest handling and transport operations. In: Principles and Practices for Harvesting, Handling Fruits and Nuts. (O’Brien M; Carpill B F; Fridley R B, eds), p 636. The AVI Publishing Com. Inc., Connecticut Semerci E; Der M (1985). Determination of suitability of fresh fruit and vegetable packaging for transit under simulated test conditions, Research Rep. No. 7, Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Sommer N F; Mitchell F G; Guillou R; Luvisi D A (1960). Fresh fruit temperatures and transit damage. American Society of Horticulture Science, 76, 156–162 TSI (1974a). Guide to Apple Storage, p 8. TS 1221 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1974b). Packaging—Filled Packaging for Transit—div.4: Free-Fall Impact Test, p 3. TS 1642 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1975). Wooden Packagings (Terms, Definitions, and Measuring Methods), p 3. TS 1891 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1982). Transit packaging—Rigid, Rectangular-Prism Transit Packaging, Dimensions, p 9. TS 3766 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1983). Apple, p 9. TS 100 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1988a). Tight-filled Transit Packaging—General Procedures for Performance Test Programme General Principles, p 7. TS 5902 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1988b). Tight-Filled Transit Packagings—General Procedures for Performance Test Programme Division 2. Quantitative Data, p 20. TS 5903 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish). TSI (1988c). Tight-Filled Transit Packaging—Distribution Tests—Information for Records, p 4. TS 5901 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1989). Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—Rules for Placing Parallel-Sided Packaging into Highway Trucks, p 5. TS 6528 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish).
ARTICLE IN PRESS 248
T. ACICAN ET AL.
TSI (1996a). Packaging—Tight-filled Transit Packaging— Horizontal Impact Tests (Horizontal or Tilted Plane Tests), p 4. TS 1643 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1996b). Packaging—Tight-filled Transit Packaging Vibration Test at Fixed Low Frequencies, p 2. TS 1644 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1998). Agricultural Framework (Production, Price, Value), p 7. T.C. Prime Ministry StatisticalInstitute, Ankara (in Turkish)
Tunaligil B G (1993). Technical properties of biological materials, Publication No. 1305, p 136. University of Ankara, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara (in Turkish) Vursavus- K; O¨zguven F (2004). Determining the effects of vibration parameters and packaging method on mechanical damage in Golden Delicious apples. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 28(5), 311–320 Yu¨cel A (1971). Harvesting, Handling and Packaging of Apples, Publication No. 24, p 14. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish)
Mechanical Damage to Apples during Transport in Wooden Crates T. Acıcan1; K. Alibas-2; I.S. O¨zelko¨k3 1
Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yalova, Turkey; e-mail: [email protected] 2 Department of Agricultural Machinery, Uludag˘ University, Go¨ru¨kle-Bursa. Turkey; e-mail of corresponding author: [email protected] 3 Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yalova, Turkey; e-mail: [email protected] (Received 22 January 2006; accepted in revised form 14 November 2006; published online 22 December 2006)
Mechanical forces exerted on apples in wooden crates during the transport period from the harvest to market stage, as well as the damage caused by these forces were determined. Typical wooden crates as specified in Turkish Standard, TS 3766, and widely used in apple transport in Turkey were used in the study. Apples were placed into containers in three layers. Force measurements were made at a total of 21 measurement points. Containers were placed onto free fall, horizontal impact and vibration simulators in the laboratory and the free-fall force in vertical direction, horizontal impact forces in vertical and horizontal directions and vibration forces in vertical and horizontal directions were measured. The means of free fall, horizontal impact and vibration forces were used to calculate the values of mechanical forces acting on the crates during transport. The correlation between mechanical force and damage was linear in both apple cultivars and a significant correlation was found for apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. Significant differences between the damage at the lower and the uppermost layers were observed in both apple cultivars. r 2006 IAgrE. All rights reserved Published by Elsevier Ltd
1. Introduction In Turkey, 2 450 000 t of apple is produced annually. About 2% is exported and 98% is consumed by domestic market, which corresponds nearly to 7% of the total annual fresh fruit and vegetable production, and approximately 175% of our total annual fruit production (TSI, 1998; Gu¨ndu¨z, 1997). Apple cultivars such as Golden Delicious, Starkrimson Delicious, Starking Delicious, Granny Smith and Amasya are widely grown in Turkey. Total loss in horticultural products during the period from harvest to market in Turkey is 25% in average (Dokuzog˘uz, 1983). Although the losses in different products are at different rates depending on technical and physiological characteristics of the product, postharvest treatments, packaging and shipping conditions, the major part of these losses occur during transportation (Kaynas- et al., 1987; Maxie et al., 1967; McColloch, 1962; O’Brien & Gaffney, 1983). In a transportation test 1537-5110/$32.00
with apple cultivar Golden Delicious, damage rates of apples ranged between 4509% and 4511% for those placed into the crates reinforced with cardboard of 500 g/m2 at the base, and directly stacked into the crates, respectively (New, 1983). The shipping of fresh fruits and vegetables produced in Turkey from the production sites to the domestic markets is via highway transport, while 75-95% of the exported products are shipped in highway transport vehicles (DPT, 1983). Mean highway distance of the important apple production sites in Turkey to the probable markets is nearly 770 km. The longest highway distances between the production and marketing sites are 2103 and 1853 km for C¸anakkale—Hakkari and Denizli—Hakkari highways, respectively. The relative ratios of highway distances of these important apple production sites to the highway distances to all other centres are 74%, 21% and 5% for highway distances below or equal to 1000 km, between 1001 and 1500 km, and above or equal to 1501 km, respectively. This 239
r 2006 IAgrE. All rights reserved Published by Elsevier Ltd
ARTICLE IN PRESS 240
T. ACICAN ET AL.
situation indicates that shipping distances below or equal to 1000 km are important for our domestic markets in fresh fruit (Milliyet, 1997). The market value of apple declines due to the mechanical damage resulting from transport within the chain from the harvest to marketing (O’Brien & Gaffney, 1983; Kaynas- et al., 1987). This situation adversely affects the growers and consumers, as well as the national economy within the period from the harvest to the marketing of product and reveals the need for conducting the studies necessary for the solution of the problem. In this study, the effect of mechanical forces on the packed apples and the damage resulting from these forces were determined with the shipping tests carried out under laboratory conditions, and the relations between force and damage were shown statistically.
2. Literature review Aydın and Carman (1998) studied the damage resulting from the energy of collision between apple fruits, and determined the coefficients of collision and volume of damage due to different energies of collision of the apples using a pendulous arm for two different cultivars (Golden Delicious and Starking Delicious). The values for the coefficient of collision ranged from 035 to 052 and the volume of damage from 048 to 516 cm3. An increase in the energy of collision led to a reduction in the collision coefficient and increment in the volume of damage. The apple cultivar Starking was determined to be more susceptible to damage. Duvekot and Yu¨cel (1971) reported that the apertures between the wooden plates of crates should not exceed 5 mm, the corrugated papers used in packaging should be of 42 g/m2, the fruits should not touch the corrugated surface and the wrapping papers should be thin, sound, smooth and of 10 g/m2. The nest-pack system was more suitable than the diagonal arrangement system and the cell-pack was more suitable then the square arrangement in packaging, and the diagonal arrangement was more advantageous than the square arrangement with regard to damage, the cavity width should be 5 mm in cell-pack, and the apple grading should be done very well in the cell-pack arrangement. Fischer et al. (1992) determined the changes in fruit quality before simulated shipping, immediately and one week after by using artificial vibrations at 2–30 Hz after harvest, and detected the damage in the fruits at a height of 9–15 crates. They pointed out that the greatest damage occurred on the fruits in the uppermost crates at vibrations of 5–10 Hz.
Is-ik and Guler (2003) emphasised the importance of measuring produce dimensions in engineering studies by an image analysis technique for machine designs related to the particular produce. In their study, they calculated the surface area of Golden Delicious apples by using this technique. Kaynas- et al. (1987) investigated the sensitivity of some hybrid tomato cultivars to shipping and found that a cardboard box with plastic containers had the least damage. Kaynas- et al. (1990) applied an average of four falls per shipping container from the falling height of 30 cm in highway transport under Turkish conditions, which corresponds to a colliding distance of 660 mm with an average speed of 15 m/s based on the six replicates of horizontal impact tests in the transport vehicle. They used the amplitude and frequency values of 25 mm and 250 min 1, respectively, for Turkish highways in vibration tests for vibration periods of 20 min to represent long distance transports of 1000 km and 5,10,15 min for distances shorter than 1000 km, respectively. New (1983) reported that the shipping tests carried out under natural and artificial conditions were a reliable indication of the physical resistance of the fruits and vegetables being shipped in relation to their physiological ripeness, as well as defining the physical properties of the packing material. O’Brien and Gaffney (1983) reported that the extent of damage to tomatoes and processing peaches during packaging was dependent on the speed of impact or falling height to which the fruits were subjected and the physical characteristics of the surface onto which they fell, and that the rate of damage decreased as a result of covering the impact surface with a soft material. They also stated that the important point in transport was the percentage of fruits injured rather than their number, and the damage could be reduced by filling the spaces between packages during shipping and by cooling the fruit. Semerci and Der (1985) clarified the standard values of the vibration period for European test conditions in their study related to the determination of the package types used for fresh fruits and vegetables to shipping under artificial conditions: (i) 20 min vibration period corresponds to 1000 km of transport by road or 3000 km by rail; (ii) 40 min vibration period corresponds to 1500 km of transport by road or 4500 km by rail; and (iii) 60 min vibration period corresponds to longer transport distance by road or by rail. Vursavus- and O¨zgu¨ven (2004) reported that their study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vibration
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
frequency, vibration acceleration, packaging method, and vibration duration on the mechanical damage during apple transportation. The research was performed in three stages. Firstly, the distribution of vibration frequency and acceleration were measured on the truck-bed. Secondly, packaging transmissibility and vibration frequency sensitivity for all the packaging methods used in this research were measured. Thirdly, a laboratory vibrator, which simulates the road transportation under laboratory conditions, was used to obtain some factors influencing the mechanical damage during apple transportation. According to the results measured on the truck-bed, vibration frequency values were 819 and 1259 Hz for 5–10 and 10–15 Hz frequency intervals, respectively. Furthermore, vibration acceleration values were 033 and 063 g for 025–050 g and 050–075 g intervals, respectively. The highest packaging transmissibility was obtained for the volume packaging method, and packaging transmissibility was at similar high levels at the vibration frequency interval of 8–9 Hz for all packaging methods. Vibration frequency, vibration acceleration, packaging method, and vibration duration, which were taken into consideration as controlled variable parameters, significantly affected the equivalent severe bruise index at the 1% level of significance. Apples in the pattern packaging method had by far the lowest bruising, and the most suitable method for transit was pattern packaging.
3. Materials and methods 3.1. Materials Apple cultivar Granny Smith grafted on M9 rootstock and cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious grafted on MM106 rootstock grown in the orchards of Yalova Atatu¨rk Horticultural Research Institute and which show differences in their responses to decay and that are widely grown in Turkey were used as the research material. The fruits taken into the trial were handharvested and stored in cold store. Mean fruit diameter was 764 mm in cultivar Granny Smith and 743 mm in cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious (TSI, 1983; Tunalıgil, 1993). Both apple varieties were harvested at ideal maturity. Their starch scores were 7 for Granny Smith and 5 for Starkspur Golden Delicious based on the standards (1–10) developed by the Institute. Their flash firmness values were 81 and 72 kg, and their soluble sugar content (SS) where 128% and 125%. However, after the storage and before transit tests in December these values were 796 and 516 kg, and 133% and 142%, respectively.
241
Fig. 1. Standard wooden crate used in the research
In this study, the wooden apple crates defined in TS 3766 (standard-type package) and which is widely used in Turkey were chosen as crate material (TSI, 1982). The dimensions (width by length by height) of package are 400 mm by 600 mm by 340 mm externally and 375 mm by 570 mm by 240 mm, internally (TSI, 1975). Mean empty weight of apple crates are 6 kg. Total weight of the crate with fruit is about 30 kg for Granny Smith apples and about 265 kg for Starkspur Golden Delicious apples. The inner base and inner faces of crate is lined with packing paper of 49 g/m2. Wooden crate used in the research is shown in Fig. 1. A planimeter (compensating planimeter TYPE KP27) was used in determining the injured areas and total surface areas of fruits following transportation. A mechanical falling test simulator, mechanical–hydraulic horizontal impact test simulator and electromechanical vibration simulator were used in the artificial transport tests under laboratory conditions (TSI, 1988a, 1988b; ISO 1988). An electronic data collection system was used in the measurement of mechanical forces on the apples in the package. The way in which the force measuring unit (dynamometer) was placed into the package is given in Fig. 2. The data collection system had 01 g sensitivity and capacity to receive 100 data per second.
3.2. Methods In this study, artificial shipping tests were applied under laboratory conditions, in order to determine the mechanical forces on the apples in the trays, the damage
ARTICLE IN PRESS 242
T. ACICAN ET AL.
Fig. 2. Placement of the force measurement system into the crate (a) connection of dynamometer to the assembly unit and force measurement; (b, c) placement of the dynamometer at the sample point for force measurement in the crate; (d) suitable covering of the crate into which the dynamometer was placed
caused by these forces, and the relationship between them. The studies were conducted separately for the two apple cultivars. Starkspur Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples were hand-harvested in September 2003 and October 2003, respectively. The selected fruits were brought to the laboratory and placed in the storage room at 0–1 1C, 90–95% humidity until mid December 2003, when they were used in the shipping tests (TSI, 1974a; Eris- , 1989). Apples were placed into wooden apple crates in three layers of 40 fruits, giving a total of 120 fruits (TSI, 1988c; Yu¨cel, 1971). Some 45% of these fruits in the container were located at the edges of the container (67% at the long edges, 33% at the short edges), 10% at the corners and 45% in the middle parts of the container. The sites of the measuring points were selected beforehand at random, seven point from each of three layer of which three points (45% of 7 measuring points determined in each layer) are from the edges (two of them or 67%, are from the long edge; one of them, or 33%, is from the short edge), three points (45%) are from the middle parts, and one point (10%) is from the corner of the package (Fig. 3). The dynamometer was placed initially at these measuring points so that it will receive horizontal and vertical forces effectively than the crate was filled with apples before the transport tests.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1 e d c b a
Fig. 3. Measurement points randomly selected from each layer of an apple crate containing apples
The container was filled with apples, covered suitably from the upper parts than the transport test was carried out. Artificial transport tests were conducted in three stages, namely, the free-fall test, the horizontal impact test and the vibration test, successively, and the mechanical forces exerted on the apples in the package during tests were measured (TSI, 1989, 1996a, 1996b). The dynamometer was placed on the sample points in the package and the package was prepared for measurements.
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
In the free-fall test, the dynamometer was located in the package for each force measurement, and the vertical forever measured at each one of the 21 measuring points. Four force measurements were carried out free falls from the height of 30 cm for each measuring point. Arithmetical means of these forces were utilised as free fall forces (TSI, 1974b). The measurement of mechanical forces in the vertical and horizontal directions in relation to the direction and orientation of the conveyance plane was carried out from 21 measuring points. Impact data were obtained for each measuring point by setting the carrier free from a distance of 660 mm which corresponds to the speed of 15 m/s; and the forces in the vertical and horizontal directions were determined separately at each impact, with six replicates. For the vibration test, the dynamometer was located in the package, and the package placed onto the simulator longitudinally in the same direction as the vibration movement for the first vibration period of 10 min. The vibration amplitude and frequency were adjusted to 25 mm and 250 min 1. The vibration period was started with a chronometer (Kaynas- et al., 1990; O’Brien et al., 1963). The vibration value for the second period of vibration 10 min was obtained by replacing the package on the vibration simulator transversely to the direction of the vibration movement. Three horizontally oriented and three vertically oriented force measurements were obtained during the first and second vibration test periods, for each
243
one of the force measurement points. Arithmetical means of the forces measured at horizontal and vertical directions were taken separately, and the arithmetical mean of the resultants of these mean horizontal and vertical forces were utilised as the vibration force. After the determination of mechanical force values, the apples were placed into the same wooden apple crates used in the determination of mechanical force values, in three layers. Healthy fruits, which do not have any decay, bruises or defects such as sun scorching, were manually selected one by one after a careful examination. Fruits had a regular shape and they were nearly of the same size. The fruits were placed onto the same measurement points which were determined beforehand and at which the mechanical force values and transport tests were done after covering the package suitably. Subsequently the fruit samples were removed from the package and placed into the maturation room. The apples taken from the packages were kept in the maturation room at 20 1C and 90–95% RH for 7 days prior to damage assessment (Ertan et al., 1991; Sommer et al., 1960). At the end of this period, the fruit skins were peeled completely, shapes of the damage were traced onto acetate and thereafter, these shapes were carried onto thin onionskin papers and the damaged areas were measured with a planimeter (Fig. 4). The damage was calculated as per cent based on the total fruit surface. Analyses of variance were conducted for the forces for every apple cultivar using Mstat-C at a significance level of Po005 (Du¨zgu¨nes et al., 1987).
Fig. 4. Measurement of the damaged areas on fruits:(a, b) peeling of the sample fruit; (c) tracing of the shapes of injured parts onto an acetate; (d) tracing of the damaged parts onto onionskin paper; (e) measurement of the area of damaged parts using a planimeter
ARTICLE IN PRESS 244
T. ACICAN ET AL.
4. Results and discussion Mechanical force data belonging to the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious are given in Figs 5 and 6, respectively. The free fall, vibration and average force during transport were greater than the forces which occurred in the middle and the upper layers. Horizontal impact forces in the middle and the upper layers were approximate by the same as the forces in the lower layer. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) between the average free-fall forces exerted on the apples in the lower, middle and upper layers of the package in cultivar Granny Smith is given in Table 1. The mechanical forces exerted on the lower fruit layer, for cultivar Granny Smith with respect to free-fall forces at 5% deviation probability level were different and greater than the forces exerted on the middle and upper fruit layers. There were no statistical differences between the middle and upper fruit layers. The ANOVA between the horizontal impact forces found no significant differences between the fruit layers for apple cultivar Granny Smith in terms of the horizontal impact forces at po005. The ANOVA for the vibration forces and the average transit forces are also given in Table 1, respectively. The mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in apple cultivar Granny Smith with respect to average vibration
forces were significantly different from each other at the 5% level. The greatest forces were exerted on the apples in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces were measured on the apples in the upper fruit layer. Analysis of variance between the average free-fall forces, the horizontal impact forces, the vibration forces and the transist forces exerted on the apples in the lower, middle and upper layers of the package for cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious are given in Table 2. The mechanical forces exerted on the lower and middle fruit layers in the cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious were significantly different from the forces exerted on the upper fruit layer, with respect to average free-fall forces, at 5% level. There was no statistical difference between the lower and the middle fruit layers. There was no statistically significant difference between the fruit layers in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious at 5% level, with respect to the average horizontal impact forces. The mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious were significantly different from each other at 5% level, with respect to the average vibration forces. The greatest forces formed on the fruits in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces formed on the fruits which were on the upper fruit layer. The mean mechanical forces exerted on the fruit layers in the apple cultivar Starkspur
40 35 30
Force, N
25 20 15 10 5 0 e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 Lower layer
c6
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Medium layer
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Upper layer
d5
Measuring points Fig. 5. Mechanical force values formed as a result of transit test on Granny Smith apples: , average free-fall force; horizontal impact force; , average vibrational force, , average mechanical force during transit
, average
ARTICLE IN PRESS 245
MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
30
25
Force, N
20
15
10
5
0 e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Lower layer
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Medium layer Measuring points
d5
e1
a3
e5 c8 b4 c6 Upper layer
d5
Fig. 6. Mechanical force values formed as a result of transit test on Starkspur Golden Delicious apples: , average free-tall force; , average horizontal impact force; , average vibrational force, , average mechanical force during transit
Table 1 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) related to fruit layers with respect to mean free fall forces, horizontal hit forces, vibration forces and mechanical forces exerted on fruits in free fall test, horizontal hit test, vibration test and transport tests in apple cultivar Granny Smith Fruit layer Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average free-fall force, N
Average horizontal impact force, N
Average vibration force, N
Average mechanical force, N
2327a 1397b 1131b
1849a 2058a 1651a
507a 428b 302c
1561a 1294ab 1028b
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
Table 2 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) related to fruit layers with respect to mean free fall forces, horizontal hit forces, vibration forces and mechanical forces exerted on fruits in free fall test, horizontal hit test, vibration test and transport tests in apple cultivar Starkspur Golden Delicious Fruit layer Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average free-fall force, N
Average horizontal impact force, N
Average vibration force, N
Average mechanical force, N
1977a 1603a 953b
1674a 1550a 1820a
510a 489ab 351b
1387a 1214ab 1041b
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
ARTICLE IN PRESS 246
T. ACICAN ET AL.
Mechanical damage, %
Golden Delicious were significantly different at 5% level. The greatest forces were exerted on the fruits which were in the lower fruit layer, while the smallest forces were exerted on the apples which were in the upper fruit layer. The tests, the same as those carried out in the force measurements were repeated for the determination of the damage ratios. Regression equations for the correlation between mechanical force and damage and the regression lines given by these equations are shown in Figs 7 and 8, for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. From the results of ANOVA, significant differences exist between the fruit layers with respect to the damage caused by mechanical forces at the end of transport tests in both apple cultivars. The greatest damage took place in the lower fruit layers at the base of the crates, with mean damage values of 1096% and 839%, in the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively ( Table 3 ). Medium damage was recorded in the middle fruit layers of the crates with mean damage values of 818%
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
y = 0.9x − 3.4415 R = 0.9652
0
5
10 Mechanical force, N
15
20
Mechanical damage, %
Fig. 7. Regressional relations between mechanical forces and resultant mechanical damage for Granny Smith apples; R, correlation coefficient
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0
Table 3 Statistical analyses results between layer of damaged apples during simulate tests for Granny Smith apples and Starkspur Golden Delicious apples Layers
Lower layer Middle layer Upper layer
Average mechanical damage, % Granny Smith
Starkspur Golden Delicious
10960a 8183b 5577c
8387a 5870b 4237c
The same letter in each column denotes no significant difference at 5% probability.
and 587% for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. The least damage was determined in the upper fruit layers in the crates with mean damage values of 558% and 424% for the apple cultivars Granny Smith and Starkspur Golden Delicious, respectively. From the results of the statistical analyses, the greatest damage which took place in the apple packages during transport tests became more severe towards the base of the package due to the effect of mechanical forces caused by the weight of fruits and the dynamic loads exerted during transport tests. Mechanical forces decrease towards the upper levels of the package, and, in contrast, damage values become smaller. It can be concluded from all these results that the damage caused to the fruits during transport could be minimised by reducing the mechanical forces exerted during the transport tests and hence exerted on the apples. For this purpose, the necessary regulations related to the packages should be organised and in this way, the package types which are of low-cost and which will minimise the damaging forces should be developed.
5. Conclusions y = 1.24x − 8.8856 R = 0.9725
0
5
10 15 Mechanical force, N
20
Fig. 8. Regresional relations between mechanical forces and resultant mechanical damage for Starkspur Golden Delicious apples; R, correlation coefficient
(1) Forces induced in the package lead to damage on fruits, and hence shortening of the shelf life. Crates should be designed in a way to minimise these forces. (2) Mechanical forces acting on the apples at the base of the package are of greater values than those on the upper layers. Materials that will absorb these forces should be placed onto the base of package. (3) Horizontal impact forces on the lower, medium, and upper layers had a similar overall affect. All the surfaces of packages should be lined with forceabsorbing materials in order to minimise the magnitude of this force.
ARTICLE IN PRESS MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO APPLES DURING TRANSPORT IN WOODEN CRATES
The study shows that the elasticity of Starkspur Golden Delicious apples is far greater than the elasticity of Granny Smith apples. While the former suffers no permanent damage under the mechanical forces 717 N due to elastic deformations, the latter, however, is damage starting at 382 N. Future studies should include other popular varieties in Turkey so that elastic properties can lead to more proper handling of the apples to minimise transport damages.
References Aydın C; Carman K (1998). Determination of bruising resulted from compressional impact between apples. Agricultural Mechanisation 18th National Congress, pp 773–778. Tekirdagˇ (in Turkish) Dokuzog˘uz M (1983). Development of fruit storage in Turkey and its problems. Postharvest Technology, Marketing and Transportation at Horticultural Produce Symposium, pp 1–9. University of C¸ukurova, Agricultural Faculty, Division of Horticulture, Adana (in Turkish) DPT(1983). II. Fruit and Vegetable Project of Turkey. Horticultural Sub-Sector Major Plan and Sectorial Research, Vol. 1. Prime Ministry, Ankara (in Turkish) Duvekot W S; Yu¨cel A (1971). Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, p 50. Publication No. 23, Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute Yalova (in Turkish) Du¨zgu¨nes O; Kesici T; Kavuncu O; Gu¨rbu¨z F (1987). Methods of research and experiments (statistical methods—II), p 381. Publication No. 1021, University of Ankara, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara (in Turkish) Eris- A (1989). Packaging Employed in Storage and Transportation of Fruits and Vegetables, Problems and Solutions. MPM Journal No 1989-2.– 171, p 135. Ankara (in Turkish) Ertan U¨; Genc C; O¨zelko¨k S; Moltay I (1991). Studies on important disorders of some standard apple varieties. I. bitter pit. pome fruits res. Project Interval Rep, p 15. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Fischer D; Craig W L; Watada A E; Douglas W; Ashby B H (1992). Simulated in-transit vibration damage to packaged fresh market grapes and strawberries. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 8(3), 363–366 Gu¨ndu¨z M (1997). World trade of pome fruits and evaluation from Turkey’s angle. Pome Fruits Symposium, pp 295–304. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Is- ik E; Gu¨ler T (2003). Determination of Surface Area for Apples with Image Analysis Technique, pp 59–64. Publication No. 17(1) University of Uludag˘, Faculty of Agriculture, Bursa (in Turkish) ISO (1988). Recommendation on the standardization of packaging for the international transport of fresh or refrigerated fruit and vegetables, under the OECD scheme for the application of international standards for fruit and vegetables. Manual on the Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, pp 155–160. International Trade Centre ISO2247 UNCTAD/GATT, Geneva
247
Kaynas- K; Semerci E; Bas- T (1987). A Study on Suitability of Some Tomato Varieties for Transit under Normal and Simulated Conditions, Vol. 16 (1–2), 56–57. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute Yalova (in Turkish) Kaynas- K; Su¨rmeli N; Tu¨rkes- N (1990). A study of Sencan 9 and H-2274 tomato varieties for transit under normal and simulated conditions. Foot Industry Journal, 4(1), 51–56 (in Turkish) Maxie E C; Sommer N F; Mitchell F G (1967). The postharvest scientist’s view of some problems in perishables handling. Proceeding of the Fruit and Vegetables Perishables Handling Conference pp 5–9, USA McColloch L P (1962). Bruising damage of tomatoes. Report No. 513, USDA Marketing Research USA. Milliyet (1997). Highway Map of Turkey. Milliyet Newspaper Pub. Approved by State Map Department (in Turkish) New J H (1983). Reports on visits to Turkey to review the packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables. Report No. 1170 (A). Tropical Development Research Institute England. O’Brien M; Claypool L L; Leonard J (1963). Effect of mechanical vibration on fruit damage during transportation with special reference to cling peaches. Food Technology, 17(12), 106–109 O’Brien M; Gaffney J J (1983). Postharvest handling and transport operations. In: Principles and Practices for Harvesting, Handling Fruits and Nuts. (O’Brien M; Carpill B F; Fridley R B, eds), p 636. The AVI Publishing Com. Inc., Connecticut Semerci E; Der M (1985). Determination of suitability of fresh fruit and vegetable packaging for transit under simulated test conditions, Research Rep. No. 7, Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish) Sommer N F; Mitchell F G; Guillou R; Luvisi D A (1960). Fresh fruit temperatures and transit damage. American Society of Horticulture Science, 76, 156–162 TSI (1974a). Guide to Apple Storage, p 8. TS 1221 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1974b). Packaging—Filled Packaging for Transit—div.4: Free-Fall Impact Test, p 3. TS 1642 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1975). Wooden Packagings (Terms, Definitions, and Measuring Methods), p 3. TS 1891 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1982). Transit packaging—Rigid, Rectangular-Prism Transit Packaging, Dimensions, p 9. TS 3766 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1983). Apple, p 9. TS 100 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1988a). Tight-filled Transit Packaging—General Procedures for Performance Test Programme General Principles, p 7. TS 5902 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1988b). Tight-Filled Transit Packagings—General Procedures for Performance Test Programme Division 2. Quantitative Data, p 20. TS 5903 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish). TSI (1988c). Tight-Filled Transit Packaging—Distribution Tests—Information for Records, p 4. TS 5901 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1989). Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—Rules for Placing Parallel-Sided Packaging into Highway Trucks, p 5. TS 6528 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish).
ARTICLE IN PRESS 248
T. ACICAN ET AL.
TSI (1996a). Packaging—Tight-filled Transit Packaging— Horizontal Impact Tests (Horizontal or Tilted Plane Tests), p 4. TS 1643 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1996b). Packaging—Tight-filled Transit Packaging Vibration Test at Fixed Low Frequencies, p 2. TS 1644 Turkish Standards Institute, Ankara (in Turkish) TSI (1998). Agricultural Framework (Production, Price, Value), p 7. T.C. Prime Ministry StatisticalInstitute, Ankara (in Turkish)
Tunaligil B G (1993). Technical properties of biological materials, Publication No. 1305, p 136. University of Ankara, Faculty of Agriculture, Ankara (in Turkish) Vursavus- K; O¨zguven F (2004). Determining the effects of vibration parameters and packaging method on mechanical damage in Golden Delicious apples. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 28(5), 311–320 Yu¨cel A (1971). Harvesting, Handling and Packaging of Apples, Publication No. 24, p 14. Atatu¨rk Central Horticultural Research Institute, Yalova (in Turkish)