Automatic Measurements of Fruit Surface Area and Volume for Muskmelon, and Uptake of Nutrition During the Cultivation by Hydroponics

• Published in: Shokubutsu Kojo Gakkaishi Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 99 - 103
• Main Authors: JANG, Hong Gi, AOKI, Hirovuki, FUKUYAMA, Toshio, HENMI, Teruo, HASHIMOTO, Yasushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: JAPANESE SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS 1996
• ISSN: 0918-6638; 1880-3555
• DOI: 10.2525/jshita.8.99

The CCD camera system is an effective tool for intact and non-destructive measurement of muskmelon fruit during growth. The system can digitize continuously the images of muskmelon fruit and calculate its surface area and volume with the computer in the system. We have, therefore, developed several CCD camera systems for obtaining the accurate information about the muskmelon fruits grown in a greenhouse. The surface area and volume of the fruit rose markedly immediately after pollination and dropped near 20-30 days after pollination during the period of the growth.It is suggested that the fruit has an ability to attain large surface area and volume throughout all the stages of growth. It is surmised, by considering the physiological aspects of the fruit growth, that the uptake of mineral elements during the 20-30days after pollination affect the surface area and volume of the fruit. In conclusion, these techniques made it possible to realize automatic measurement of muskmelon fruits and development of total system for monitoring and evaluating the fruits growth in a greenhouse.