Development of a system to measure color in fresh and microwave dried banana slices.

The main focus of this study was to develop and calibrate a computerized image analysis system in order to measure the color of banana (Musa Cavendish) under microwave treatment. Bananas were cut into 2 mm slice thickness and dried at two different microwave power level; 540 W and 180 W. An algorithmic was developed which converted RGB color value from a color image into CIE L*a*b* values very well (ErrorL* = 2.163%, Errora* = 4.458%, Errorb* = 5.224%). Once the calibration is completed, it was applied to measure the color change in the banana slice during drying. The value of L* decreased from 89.01 to 71.17 and from 82.60 to 72.53 for both microwave treated samples suggesting browning is taking place during the drying operation. The value of a* increased from - 0.80 to 11.50 and from - 3.90 to 5.18 for 540 and 180 W microwave treated banana slices respectively suggesting tendency of redness increased. The same type of increment was observed for b* value. It changed from 36.46 to 60.51 and 34.02 to 72.82 for 540 and 180 W microwave treated banana slices, respectively. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling was used for prediction of the developed CVS's values. © Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2020.