5TH International Congress on Technology - Engineering & Science - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2018-02-01)

Cocoa Maturity Colors Kit (co-mack) Derivation Using Digital Image Processing Approach

Cocoa, Theobroma Cacao is an important commodity with three major populations; Forastero, Criollo and Trinitario. Each population are genetically different with specific morphological characteristics. Ripening stage (i.e. unripe, ripe and over ripe stages) and pod colour are significantly varies among cocoa clones. Planting minimum of four different clones are suggested in a cocoa block, however it offers difficulty to examine the ideal time for harvesting. Only experienced growers are able to distinguish ripening stages of different clones, based on their visual inspection. Over ripe pods tends to attract mammalian pests, with great potential of productivity loss due to disease incidence. Therefore, objective of this study is to provide new, simplistic technique of detecting clone maturity stages through the use of digital image processing (DIP) techniques. Image acquisition for three widely planted clones in Malaysia (i.e KKM22, BR25 and MCBC4) were obtained using high specification camera of DSLR. Clones characteristics associated to maturity stages especially ripe colour were extracted using digital image processing. RGB value extraction and image segmentation is systematically documented. Documented information which is complicated was simplified to develop a kit that is practical and can be adapt at ease by cocoa growers. The kit is known as ‘Cocoa Maturity Colors Kit’ (Co-MaCK) and aimed to be used as a guidelines and tools to determine exact time to harvest their mature pods. Harvesting of different clones at appropriate time is one of significant approach to increase their productivity, due to lower risks of loss to pests and diseases incidence
Nor Aizam Adnan, Saripah Bakar, Alias Awang