Texture pro ct analyser

Texture analysis was conducted by means of a texture PRO CT analyser (Brookfield, Middleboro, USA). Texture Profile Analysis Test (TPA) was carried out by using at least six strawberries (four OD treatment replicates). The test was performed using a TA11/100 probe and samples were analysed at a fixed rate (0.5 mm/s) and depth (30%). The necessary strength, area and distance values were determined in order to calculate the different textural parameters: firmness, adhesiveness, elasticity, cohesiveness and chewiness by using the available settings of Texture Pro CT software (V1.4, Build 17).

One-dimensional shrinkage (Sh, %) of strawberry slices at each OD time and condition was calculated (Equation 4) from thickness measurements recorded by an electronic system (0.1 mm sensitivity) available in a texture PRO CT analyser (Brookfield, Middleboro, USA). Besides, thickness measurements were also verified by means of a manual calliper (0.1 mm sensitivity). Thickness values (2L, m) were normalized respect to initial values (2L 0 , m) and presented as Normalized thickness (N T , Equation 5). Half thickness values as a function of time were used as characteristic dimension (L, m) to calculate the diffusional coefficient (Section 2.5) [24] .
where N T represents the Normalized thickness defined as follows:
where 2L is the measured thickness value. Subscripts 0 and t indicates the initial and final OD processing time, respectively.