Image Analysis to Quantify Weight-length, Weight-area, and Change of Color of Three Commercial Mullidae Species during Cold Storage

Abstract

ABSTRACT Image analysis was used to quantify weight-length, weight-area, and change of color for three fish caught in the Mediterranean (Red mullet Mullus barbatus, Por’s goatfish Upeneus pori, and goldband goatfish Upeneus moluccensis) during 7 days of storage at 4 ± 1°C. Length-weight data were fitted with a power equation. R2 ranged from 0.759 to 0.880. U. moluccensis showed an isometric growth, while the others had a negative allometric growth. For the view area (V)-weight relationship, linear and second order polynomial equations were also used in addition to the power equation. The R2 values for these ranged from 0.895 to 0.952. Average L*, b*, and ΔE values for all fish increased with storage time; but the a* values decreased (P < .05). The color change index (CCI) of the fish over storage time decreased, suggesting a smoothing of colors. Although its colors changed over time, the yellow band of the goldband goatfish did not change. Correlation of these computer-generated parameters using image analysis would allow quantitative evaluation of fish color with sensory analysis.