Apple firmness detection method based on hyperspectral technology

Firmness is a key indicator of apple quality. Building a predictive model for apple firmness based on hyperspectral technology and regression algorithms can achieve rapid, non-destructive, and high-throughput detection of apple firmness. This paper adopts an Adaptive Window Length Savitzky-Golay Smoothing (AWL-SG smoothing) algorithm based on the Savitzky-Golay Smoothing (SG smoothing) algorithm, which can adaptively adjust the window length according to the change rate of spectral data at different wavelengths. SG smoothing, AWL-SG smoothing, Standard Normal Variate (SNV), and Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC) algorithms were used to preprocess the original spectral data, and Partial Least Squares (PLS), Ridge Regression (Ridge), and Kernel Ridge Regression (Kernel Ridge) predictive models were constructed to analyze the impact of different preprocessing methods on model prediction accuracy. The prediction models established with spectral data preprocessed by SG smoothing and AWL-SG smoothing algorithms showed significant improvement in predictive performance on the basis of the original spectral data, among which the AWL-SG smoothing algorithm performed the best. The Ridge model established with spectra data preprocessed by AWL-SG smoothing achieved an R2 of 0.8914 in the test set. Successive Projection Algorithm (SPA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) dimensionality reduction algorithms were used to reduce the dimensions of the full-band spectral data preprocessed by SG smoothing and AWL-SG smoothing algorithms, and Ridge and Kernel Ridge prediction models were constructed. The results showed that both SPA and PCA algorithms could improve the predictive performance of the models, with the PCA performing the best. The combination of AWL-SG + PCA + Ridge achieved the best predictive effect, with an R2 of 0.9146 in the test set. •Introduces an innovative method for non-destructive and rapid detection of apple firmness using hyperspectral technology combined with advanced regression algorithms, offering a high-throughput solution for assessing apple quality.•Demonstrates the effectiveness of the Adaptive Window Length Savitzky-Golay (AWL-SG) smoothing algorithm, which adaptively adjusts window length for spectral data smoothing, significantly enhancing predictive model accuracy compared to traditional methods.•Employs Dimensionality Reduction techniques, including Successive Projection Algorithm (SPA), Princ