Two-dimensional NMR relaxation studies of apple quality

The internal sub-cellular physiological changes associated with ripening and mealiness in apples were investigated with novel two-dimensional NMR relaxation and diffusion techniques. It is shown that two-dimensional relaxometry reveals more subtle physiological changes than hitherto observed with conventional one-dimensional relaxometry. In particular it is shown that the T1 of the peak associated with the cell wall in mealy apples is much longer than that of fresh apples. These changes could, perhaps, be exploited in the development of on-line NMR sensors of fruit quality.