Non-destructive measurement of watercore in Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifoliaNakai) 'Hosui'

Using a low frequency ultrasonic flow detector and an X-ray-computed tomogr aph, we determined whether it would be possible to carry out non-destructiv e measurement of a watercore in the Japanese pear 'Hosui'. The traveling sp eed of the longitudinal ultrasound waves of the low frequency ultrasonic fl ow detector was found to be higher with increased development of the waterc ore in fruits with ground color values of the calyx end below 3.5, based on a color chart for Japanese pear ground color(6,12)), but not in fruits wit h a ground color value above 3,5. On the other hand, using an industrial X- ray-computed tomograph, the photographs of the fruits with watercore repres ented by white points that were obtained by selecting CT-values from +0020 to +0050, nearly corresponded to the extent of the development of the water core. The results obtained indicate that X-ray-computed tomography could be used for non-destructive measurement of the occurrence of a watercore in t he Japanese pear Hosui.