Physical properties of apricot to characterize best post harvesting options

Some physical properties of three apricot varieties (Nasiry Rajabali, and Ghavami) fruits are presented in this study. These properties are necessary for the design of equipment for harvesting, processing, transporting, separating, packing and storage processes. Technological properties such as physical characteristics (linear dimensions, mass, volume, and so on), elasticity modulus, and hydrodynamic characteristics (terminal velocity, drag force, and so on) were determined at 79.61 %( Nasiry), 84.17 %(Rajabali) and 79.84 % (Ghavami) moisture content. The mean values of length, width, thickness, sphericity, mass, elasticity modulus, terminal velocity and drag force of three different apricot fruits were established between 36.94-48.51 mm, 34.11-43.32 mm, 31.65-40.84mm, 0.84- 0.94, 25.56-53.69 g, 0.32- 0.53 M Pa, 0.17- 0.21 ms-1 and 0.01-0.08 N, respectively.