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Abstract
Cracking behavior of tomato skins (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was investigated using failure and relaxation tests. Skin specimens were taken in 2 directions to represent concentric and radial cracks. Normal tissue and tissue subjected to mechanical forces were examined to determine the resulting histological distortions. The relaxation test gave more information than the failure test. No difference was observed for longitudinal or transverse skin strength for failure or the relaxation test indicating isotropic behavior. The shape of the cells and deposition of cuting appeared to affect cracking behavior. Generally, cells elongated and flattened during the failure test and failed between cells walls.