Proton (‘H) MRI is used predominantly to
determine the spatial distribution and mobility of
protonaceous species at microscopic resolution
(Morris, 1986; Callaghan, 1991). Fruit, with their
high water content and susceptibility to disorders
affecting consumer acceptability, have proved to
be popular subjects for investigation by MRI
from the earliest days of imaging (Fig. 1). This
article reviews applications of MRI involving
fruits and vegetables, and more particularly, studies
on harvested commodities appearing after
1988 when use of this technique in a postharvest
context was first reported for the non-destructive
analysis of watercore in apple (Wang et al., 1988).
Background theory concerning NMR and a summary
of recent developments that employ NMR
principles in on-line sensors for postharvest sorting
and processing situations are also included.