Modification of the effect of maturity variation on nondestructive detection of apple quality based on the compensation model

[Display omitted] •The effects of maturity variation on SSC and firmness detection of apples were studied.•There were significant differences in the spectrum and quality of apples at different maturity stages.•The effect of maturity variation could be eliminated by establishing the multi-maturity model.•The long-term performance of the multi-maturity model could be improved using S/B correction. In this study, the effect of maturity variation on the prediction of the soluble solids content (SSC) and firmness of apples was determined using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy. In 2018, 520 apples from six ripening stages were collected. The single maturity model and multi-maturity model of SSC and firmness were established using partial least-squares regression. Apples at the same and different maturity stages were used to verify the developed model. Whereas the single maturity model was affected by maturity variation, the multi-maturity model could accurately predict the SSC and firmness of apples at different maturity stages. The multi-maturity model developed based on six maturity calibration sets had the best predictive performance. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of SSC and firmness was 0.614–0.802 °Brix and 0.402–0.650 kg/cm2, respectively. The long-term performance of the optimal multi-maturity model was evaluated using validation sets. The predictive performance was decreased and the RMSEP increased when the model was used to predict the SSC and firmness of apples in different seasons. The predictive performance of the model was improved after slope/bias (S/B) correction, and the RMSEP of SSC and firmness decreased to 0.405–0.587°Brix and 0.518–0.628 kg/cm2 respectively. Overall, the multi-maturity model eliminated the effect of maturity variation, and the multi-maturity model coupled with S/B correction permitted the rapid and accurate detection of the SSC and firmness of apples at different maturity stages and in different seasons.