Effects of Forchlorfenuron on Quality of Melon Based on Electronic Nose and Electronic Tongue

In order to evaluated the effects of forchlorfenuronon on quality of melon, the electronic-nose and electronic-tongue techniques combined with principal component analysis and discriminant analysis were employed to assess the quality of oriental sweet melon. The physiological indexes of oriental sweet melon were also examined. Compared with the control group of melon, the horizontal diameter and single fruit weight of the melon were significantly increased (p<0.05), but the vertical diameter and the soluble solids in melon had no significant difference in the melons treated by forchlorfenuron. According to the results of electronic-nose, the high concentrations of forchlorfenuron (20 mg/L) reduced some of the volatile components in mature melons, the results of electronic-tongue data showed that acidity increased in mature melons treated by forchlorfenuron. Through principal component analysis, there were a significant difference between the control group melons and treated group melons by forchlorfenuron (p<0.05). And the response of electronic nose was correlated with the concentration of forchlorfenuron. It was suggested that forchlorfenuron could make significant difference on flavor of melon. The results can provide a scientific basis not only for the assessment of the effects of forchlorfenuron on the quality of agricultural products such as melon, but also for the setting reasonable guidelines of forchlorfenuron.