Studies on the effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid on post-harvest quality and shelf life of tomato fruit Cv. Abhinav

Abstract

An investigative research experiment was undertaken to study the effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid on tomato fruit of Cv. Abhinav during its storage period at 24oC. The fresh tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) of Cv. Abhinav were harvested at the proper stage of physiological maturity. The fruits were washed thoroughly with clean water followed by fungicidal treatment of 500 ppm benomyl before salicylic acid treatment. Thereafter, the fungicide treated tomato fruits were subdivided into four different lots and then immersed in salicylic acid (SA) solutions at 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm concentrations for 30 mins respectively and kept for storage studies along with control fruits. During the storage period, the observations were recorded at frequent intervals for various physico-chemical parameters in which tomatoes treated at 200ppm salicylic acid concentration found significant with respect to the lower physiological loss in weight (10.3%), a gradual increase in TSS and colour (h) from 1.4 to 3.3oBrix and -3.63 to 2.59 respectively. Moreover, the considerable decrease was observed in titrable acidity from 1.34 to 0.14%, Ascorbic Acid (SA) content from 73.14 to 22.10 mg/100 g and texture in terms of firmness decreased from 354 to 96 gf. The total phenolic content of 200 ppm salicylic acid treated tomatoes showed a gradual decrease from 3.79 to 3.14 mg GAE/g and lycopene content increased slowly from 7.01 to 12.31 mg/100 g therefore, found significant as compared to rest of the treatments and control fruits.