E-NAMTILADYSONA - Applied Science2708-62832220210401Developing a postharvest color changes identification system of melon rind using image processing132012707210.30493/das.2021.263257ENKhaled Mohi AldenDepartment of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, IranDepartment of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aleppo, Syria0000-0001-6486-7293Michael AlabboudDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, IranDepartment of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria0000-0002-0246-0436Forouzandeh SoltaniDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, IranSiamak KalantariDepartment of Horticultural Sciences, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, IranJournal Article20210129Rind color in melon is one of the major fruit attributes at harvest and postharvest during the storage period. Since commercially available chromameter results are expressed as the average values of few chosen points, these results may be inaccurate when representing the whole surface color of a large fruit such as melon. This research aimed to develop a portable and low-cost chromameter system to measure the color parameters of melon rind in CIELAB color space at harvest and calculate color changes after cold storage period using image analysis method. For this purpose, an imaging box with appropriate hardware was designed. A mobile phone was used to acquire the images. The utilized camera was standardized with a standard color chart. The obtained images were processed using ImageJ processing software. To evaluate the proposed system, the rind color parameters of 36 different melon genotypes were recorded using both the developed system and a standard chromameter device. A multivariate linear regression (MLR) correlation for each color component was extracted. The coefficients of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) for the regression models were 93.1%, 99.5%, and 99.9% for L, a, and b, respectively. After adjusting the image results according to the obtained models, Mann–Whitney test showed no significant differences in any of the color parameters (L, a, or b) between the developed system and the values recorded by the chromameter. The developed chromameter system has also shown a convenient ability to measure rind color changes even without data adjustment. Therefore, this system can be considered a valid alternative color measurement device, especially in postharvest research.https://applied.dysona.org/article_127072_eb2ddfc1baefacc504e8dd8d45bdc71a.pdfE-NAMTILADYSONA - Applied Science2708-62832220210401Bioconversion of white sorghum biomass using MixAlco fermentation process212712704110.30493/das.2021.248966ENFawzia J.ShalshIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqNagham Abdul AlrazzaqIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqDhoha NagimmIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqMuhammad Abdul AlrheemIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqSaffa Abedul AlrheemIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqKolad Abd AlalahIndustrial Microbiology Department, Directorate of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, IraqJournal Article20200918Agricultural waste is a major environmental challenge, especially in developing countries. Lignocellulose biomass is a low-cost bioresource with great potential for bioethanol and bioproducts production. However, the high costs of the enzymic treatment restrict agricultural mass utilization. MixAlco process applied methane-inhibited route to convert environmental waste into carboxylate salts under non-sterile anaerobic fermentation conditions. In this study, the lime-treated agricultural residue of white sorghum biomass (80%) supplemented by chicken manure (20%) was fermented under anaerobic conditions in a stirred-tank bioreactor. The fermentation process resulted in an acid concentration of 21.03 g/L at a conversion rate of 54.4 % for the initial volatile solids. The fermentation products constituted mainly of acetic acid, followed by propanoic acid and ethanol. The current research indicates that the MixAlco biotechnology that uses mixed agricultural wastes as a fermentation material provides an economical substitute to chemicals and physical processing methods.https://applied.dysona.org/article_127041_f037488da067b2e8711c88b18c229ab8.pdf