Laser-light backscattering imaging for early decay detection in citrus fruit using both a statistical and a physical model

Abstract The early detection of decay caused by fungi in citrus fruit is a primary concern in the post-harvest phase, the automation of this task still being a challenge. This work reports new progress in the automatic detection of early symptoms of decay in citrus fruit after infection with the pathogen Penicillium digitatum using laser-light backscattering imaging. Backscattering images of sound and decaying parts of the surface of oranges cv. ‘Valencia late’ were obtained using laser diode modules emitting at five wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared regions. The images of backscattered light captured by a camera had radial symmetry with respect to the incident point of the laser…