Non-destructive prediction of total soluble solids, titratable acidity and maturity index of limes by near infrared hyperspectral imaging

•Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) provides the spatial and spectral data of each pixel.•Limes were scanned by the HSI system in order to develop calibration models.•Models for predicting TSS and TA using PLSR were established.•Distribution maps of TSS and TA in colors of each pixel were achieved.•HSI technique has the capability of predicting for intact limes non-destructively. This study was implemented for non-destructive prediction of total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and calculation of TSS/TA as a measure of maturity index in intact limes using laboratory-based push-broom hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in reflectance mode in the range of 929–1671nm. Limes were scanned by the HSI system in order to develop calibration models for predicting TSS, TA and TSS/TA using partial least square regression (PLSR). Original spectra obtained optimal conditions for establishing the models for TSS and TA while smoothing spectra for TSS/TA. The accuracy of the models for TSS, TA and TSS/TA provided coefficient of determination of prediction (R2p) of 0.838, 0.694 and 0.775, respectively and root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.237%, 0.288% and 0.049, respectively. Image processing algorithms were then built up by interpreting predictive values, from the models, to colors in each pixel of the images. The predictive visualization of TSS, TA and TSS/TA in all portions of the limes based on a color scale was presented. The results showed that the HSI technique has the capability of predicting TSS, TA and TSS/TA of intact limes non-destructively and the results could be visualized by different colors of the predictive images.