Singular approach to penetrometry by preprocessing of digitized force-displacement curves and chemometry: A case study of 12 tomato varieties.

The force-displacement curve of penetrometry can be considered a "mechanical imprint" to improve fruit classification according to preharvest and postharvest characteristics (i.e., maturity, variety, etc.). This mechanical imprint represents a new and discriminant phenotyping criterion for tomato breeding to improve texture. The use of the digitized curve rather than computed parameters may be more easily implemented in industry.