PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND MASS MODELING BY GEOMETRICAL ATTRIBUTES OF BLACK SAPOTE (Diospyros nigra (J.F.Gmel.) Perr.)

Abstract

The fruit of black sapote (Diospyros nigra (J.F.Gmel.) Perr.) has been consumed in Mexico and Central America since pre-Hispanic times. They contain antioxidant compounds, minerals, and vitamins, making them valuable for nutraceutical and agro-industrial applications. Despite this, there is no scientific information on the physical and mechanical characterization of the fruit that helps in the design and development of protocols and equipment for storage, handling, processing, and added value for a better use of the fruit. In the present work, the physical and mechanical qualities of physiologically ripe black sapote fruit from the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, were characterized after one day of storage after harvest under environmental storage conditions. Models were also determined for the prediction of the mass of the fruit using their dimensional characteristics, finding that the quadratic models based on the volume of the ellipsoid (R² = 0.8919) and width of the fruit (R² = 0.8252) were the most appropriate to predict their mass. Likewise, a maximum compressive load force of 869.99 N and an apparent modulus of elasticity of 0.0.088 MPa were determined.