Identifikasi Struktur Mikro Jalur Transport Gas Respirasi pada Cabai Rawit Merah (Capsicum frustencens L.) Varietas Ori 212 dengan X-ray Computed Tomography)

Nurul Khomariyah, Dr. Ir. Nursigit Bintoro, M.Sc., IPU., ASEAN Eng., APEC Eng. ; Bayu Nugraha, S.T.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM.

2025 | Skripsi | TEKNIK PERTANIAN

Cabai rawit merah (Capsicum frutescens L.) varietas Ori 212 merupakan komoditas hortikultura penting yang rentan terhadap kerusakan pascapanen terutama karena respirasi tinggi sehingga mudah kehilangan kesegaran. Efisiensi transpor gas respirasi dalam jaringan menjadi kunci untuk menjaga kualitas, namun studi yang telah dilakukan masih terbatas pada metode destruktif dan kurang detail mengenai struktur mikro internal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis struktur mikro jaringan cabai secara non-destruktif, mengidentifikasi jalur transpor gas, dan mengestimasi nilai tortuositas dan difusivitas efektif (Deff) gas oksigen pada setiap bagian anatomi cabai, serta membandingkan secara statistik setiap bagian anatomi berdasarkan analisis citra X-ray CT. Metode yang digunakan meliputi scanning 3D sampel cabai utuh sebanyak 5 buah dengan X-ray CT SkyScan 1173 pada resolusi 6 µm. Gambar radiografi lalu direkonstruksi kemudian dilakukan segmentasi dan kuantifikasi parameter. Parameter yang dianalisis meliputi porositas total, distribusi volume pori, porositas tertutup, jumlah pori total, jumlah pori terbuka, jumlah pori tertutup, tortuositas, dan difusivitas efektif (Deff) pada bagian pedikel, transisi, plasenta, dan perikarp. Data kuantitatif dianalisis secara statistik menggunakan Welch ANOVA atau One-Way ANOVA diikuti dengan uji post-hoc Games-Howell atau Tukey HSD. Hasil visualisasi 3D menunjukkan perbedaan signifikan pada struktur pori antar bagian anatomi. Plasenta secara konsisten memiliki konfigurasi struktur mikro paling optimal untuk transpor gas dengan porositas total dan Deff tertinggi, didominasi pori berukuran besar, serta jumlah pori tertutup dan tortuositas terendah. Sebaliknya, perikarp berfungsi sebagai pembatas utama dengan porositas total dan Deff terendah, didominasi pori kecil dan tertutup, serta tortuositas tertinggi. Bagian pedikel dan transisi memiliki karakteristik intermediasi dalam efisiensi transpor gas. Perbandingan statistik mengonfirmasi perbedaan signifikan antar bagian dalam semua parameter yang diukur. Keseluruhan temuan ini menegaskan bahwa struktur mikro adalah faktor penentu utama efisiensi jalur transpor gas respirasi dalam buah cabai yang sangat memengaruhi kualitas pascapanennya. 

Red cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) variety Ori 212 is an important horticultural commodity that is susceptible to post-harvest damage, especially due to high respiration, so it easily loses freshness. The efficiency of respiratory gas transport in the network is key to maintaining quality, but the studies that have been conducted are still limited to destructive methods and lack detail regarding the internal microstructure. This study aims to analyze the microstructure of chili tissue in a non-destructive manner, identify gas transport pathways, and estimate the value of tortuosity and effective diffusivity (Deff) of oxygen gas in each anatomical part of chili, as well as statistically compare each anatomical part based on X-ray CT image analysis. The method used included 3D scanning of 5 whole chili samples with X-ray CT SkyScan 1173 at a resolution of 6 ?m. The radiographic images are then reconstructed and then segmented and quantified parameters. The parameters analyzed included total porosity, pore volume distribution, closed porosity, total pore count, open pore count, closed pore count, tortuosity, and effective diffusivity (Deff) in the pedicles, transitions, placenta, and pericarps. Quantitative data were statistically analyzed using Welch ANOVA or One-Way ANOVA followed by Games-Howell post-hoc tests or Tukey HSD. The results of the 3D visualization showed significant differences in pore structure between anatomical parts. The placenta consistently has the most optimal microstructure configuration for gas transport with the highest total porosity and Defff, dominated by large pores, as well as the lowest number of closed pores and tortuosity. In contrast, the pericarp serve as the main barrier with the lowest total porosity and Def, dominated by small and closed pores , as well as the highest tortuosity. The pedicle and transition parts have intermediate characteristics in the efficiency of gas transportation. Statistical comparisons confirm significant differences between parts in all measured parameters. Overall, these findings confirm that microstructure is the main determining factor for the efficiency of the respiration gas transport pathway in chili fruits which greatly affects its post-harvest quality.

Kata Kunci : Cabai rawit merah, X-ray CT, Struktur mikro, Transpor gas, Pascapanen.