Authors - Ossman Lopez, Joan Alvarado, Juan Diaz-Gonzalez, Elisa Rendon-Cadavid, Sara Lopez, Mikel Maiza, Juan Felipe Restrepo-Arias, David Velasquez Abstract - This study presents the design and development of a non-invasive sensor for measuring the capacitance of cocoa fruits to detect ripening stages and the onset of fungal disease caused by Moniliophthora roreri. Capacitance is recognized in the state of the art as an effective physiological indicator due to its correlation with moisture content, cell development, and glucose levels in fruit. Based on this premise, the hypothesis was that capacitance measurements are directly related to fruit ripening and fungal infection. The sensor system features an electronic circuit that generates a 10V peak output at a frequency of 1 kHz, integrated with a Sauty Bridge for real-time capacitance measurements without harming the fruit. The device is lightweight, user-friendly, and energy-efficient. The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions using the CNCH13 cocoa variety to standardize the measurements. The preliminary results confirm a strong correlation between capacitance levels, ripening stages in healthy fruits, and the presence of fungal disease. The prototype developed effectively measures capacitance, providing a reliable method for assessing the physiological state of cocoa fruits.
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