Field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry for pre-symptomatic rot detection in stored Ranger Russet and Russet Burbank potatoes

This study was aimed at early detection and rot progression monitoring in stored potatoes using a portable field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) system. Tuber samples of Ranger Russet (RR) Burbank (RB) cultivars were inoculated with Pectobacterium carotovorumsubsp.carotovorum (causes soft rot) sterile water (control). The jars either room temperature (25 °C 30 % relative humidity [RH]) or reduced (4 95 RH). Volatile headspace from scanned FAIMS regular intervals up to 14 days for 31 storages. Infection symptoms detected higher current pertinent compared the controls both cultivars. Such discrimination evident compensation voltage (CV)-dispersion (DF) ranges −1.70–1.31 V 38–90 −1.58–1.31 36–92 as one day after inoculation (DAI) under five DAI currents affected by storage humidity, associated interaction cultivar (F7,712 = 21.6–31.4, p < 0.001). responses control tubers also classified Naïve Bayes Random Forest algorithms accuracies 70–90 75–100 %, respectively. Overall, tunable system found suitable high throughput potato tubers. Future studies need revalidate commercial facilities timely initiation potential remedial measures.