Abstract

In this study, dimensions, mass and shape characteristics of five commercial loquat cultivars (‘Akko XIII’, ‘Champagne de Grasse’, ‘Guzelyurt 6’, ‘Hafifcukurgobek’ and ‘Sayda’) and two genotypes (‘KKTC3’ and ‘KKTC4’) were determined. Physical properties such as dimension and shape were determined both by digital caliper and image processing to compare each other. Among the cultivars and genotypes tested, ‘KKTC4’ (58.88 mm) had the highest length while ‘KKTC3’ had the highest major diameter, minor diameter, mass, geometric mean diameter, surface area and volume, with a mean of 46.31 mm, 43.61 mm, 60.12 g, 48.69 mm, 74.82 cm², and 61.25 cm³, respectively. The greatest value of elongation and the smallest value of sphericity were obtained from ‘Akko XII’ with 1.33, and ‘Akko XII’ was more oblong than the other cultivars and genotypes. The smallest value of elongation and the greatest value of sphericity were obtained from ‘Sayda’ with 1.12 and 91.16%, respectively. The results of comparison between the digital caliper and image processing showed that using the image processing method could potentially be rapid and alternative to the conventional measurement method.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica, image processing, loquat, physical properties.