DESIGN RELATED PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SNAKE TOMATO SEEDS

This paper gives an overview of design related physical properties of snake tomato seeds found in the South West of Nigeria. The seed length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, one thousand seed mass, surface area, unit and bulk volume, true and bulk density, specific surface area, porosity, static angle of repose, and coefficient of static friction were investigated at 16.56 % moisture content dry basis. The results obtained range from 12.73 ? 14.65 mm, 7.18 ? 8.36 mm, 4.54 ? 5.59 mm and 7.56 ? 8.55 mm for length, width, thickness and geometric mean diameter, respectively. The unit and bulk volume, true and bulk density were found to be in the range of 24.00 ? 30.00 cm3 and 42.00 ? 48.00 cm3, 0.67 ? 0.80 g cm-3 and 0.42? 0.46 g cm-3, respectively. The seed porosity, sphericity, and one thousand seed mass were in the range of 36.96 ? 42.86 %, 56.41 ? 63.93 % and 192.10 ? 202.10 g, respectively. Surface area, specific surface area and static angle of repose investigated were in the range of 1.80 ? 2.30 cm2, 6.89 ? 8.71 cm2 cm-3, and 30.96 ? 36.19 0, respectively. The coefficient of static friction against the surfaces; steel sheet, plywood, rubber, and aluminium revealed that they were in the ranges of 0.41 ? 0.52, 0.68 ? 0.81, 0.59 ? 0.75, and 0.47 ? 0.61, respectively. Plywood offered the highest coefficient of static friction while steel sheet gave the least value. The results of this investigation is aimed to provide the necessary data base for design engineers to make its seed planting and the seed extraction mechanized.