Quality characteristics of tomatoes grape type as function of packaging and storage

Abstract

One of the ways of preserving tomato fruits is the use of packages that have the function of controlling or minimizing degradation processes, enabling fruits to maintain quality characteristics even for consumers. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of active packaging (incorporated from ethylene absorbers) on the preservation of quality attributes, bioactive compound contents, and antioxidant activity of grape tomatoes during storage. The experimental design was completely randomized involving 2 treatments (active packaging and PET packaging), 5 storage times (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days), and 4 replications. The following were evaluated: pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids, Ratio, firmness, instrumental color, loss of fresh mass, lycopene, total phenolic composites, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity. The lycopene content of fruits packed in active packaging increased (29.8 to 48.7 μg.100 g-1 in 20 days of storage and decreased in the fruits packed in PET packages during this same period. There was the degradation of vitamin C, whose average contents of the stored fruits, regardless of the packaging ranged from 21.4 to 15.9 mg.100 g -1. The definition of the best packaging used depends on the storage period submitted. For the conservation of mass and lycopene content for 20 days at 16 ºC ± 2 the active packaging showed the best result.