Swede: non-destructive detection of brownheart

The project aims to use ultrasonic measurement techniques to evaluate Swede crops non-destructively to accurately determine the presence of internal defects caused by stresses such as boron deficiency. This technique if successful, would offer an objective method to rapidly evaluate the quality of individual Swedes and minimize crop losses.

Benefits to the industry:

The aim of the research is to provide a fast, economical, non-destructive method of internal defect determination within swedes. This could lay the foundations for later development of a production line system to identify failing individual roots on a conveyor belt and eject them.

Crop losses would be substantially reduced offering the obvious financial benefits to growers and provide quality assurance to retailers. This project will primarily focus on Brown Heart detection in culinary Swedes but the technology can be exploited to detect other defect conditions and other vegetable formats enabling more efficient quality assessment.

Aim:

To evaluate ultrasound as an effective internal defect detection method in Swede crops

Objectives:

1. Assess different ultrasound devices and frequency ranges to verify the technique is a viable method of Brown Heart detection defects in Swede
2. Select appropriate sampling and testing criteria suitable for defect detection based on findings of point 1
3. Quantify precision and accuracy of methods used for Swede defect detection
4. Quantify statistically, correct positive detection rates of Brown Heart Swede samples
5. Critically evaluate if method presents a viable commercial scale detection system