Effects of NSPRI wall-in-wall evaporative coolant on physical properties of stored tomato

Abstract

Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute developed a wall-in-wall evaporative cooling system for the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables. This is an effort in mitigating post-harvest loss of fruits and vegetables. The effect of the cooling system on the physical properties of tomatoes was investigated using ambient shelf storage as a control. Weight loss, firmness loss and colour changes of tomatoes were the major physical properties studied. Tomatoes were stored for 24 days. There was significantly higher loss in weight of tomatoes stored in ambient (68%) than those of the evaporative coolant (32%). There was significant higher loss in firmness of the tomato stored in ambient (95%) those in evaporative cooling system (58%). Tomatoes stored in evaporative cooling system retained better color while those under ambient became darkened at the end of the storage period.