Moisture content is one of the
important factors determining the marketable quality of produce.
Fruit and vegetables start losing moisture immediately after
harvest (Yehoshua and Rodov, 2002). However, laser-generated
etched markings are physical pinholes penetrating through the
cuticle and into the epidermis rendering the produce surface more
susceptible to water loss than un-etched surfaces. There was a
sharp increase in the rate of water loss between the 35- and 45-µs
exposure times (Fig. 4). The difference in the rate of water loss
was less pronounced at higher exposure times