Loss Of Firmness Research Articles

Influence of Preharvest Bagging on Maturity Indices and Postharvest Quality of Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme)

The production of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) is negatively affected by harsh environmental conditions such as extremely high and low temperatures, wind and hail damage, and pest and disease infestation. These factors delay maturity and cause uneven ripening, fruit abrasion, and blemishes, which consequently result in poor fruit quality and reduced shelf life. Preharvest bagging is an environmentally friendly alternative technique for enhancement of fruit quality and hence alleviates the stated problems. The study evaluated the physico-chemical quality of ‘Tinker’ and ‘Roma VF’ cherry tomato as influenced by preharvest bagging (transparent and blue plastics) during 8 days of shelf life at ambient conditions. Five clusters of fruit per plant per cultivar with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.0 cm were bagged after 16 days of fruit set and harvested at the green maturity stage, 12 days after preharvest bagging for the assessment of postharvest quality. Preharvest bagging effectively accelerated fruit maturity and ripening as indicated by enhanced fruit size, uniform color development, high pH, dry matter (DM) content, soluble solid content (SSC), and low titratable acidity (TA) during shelf life. Bagged fruit had higher loss of firmness and weight mainly due to ripening and showed very slight incidence of diseases during shelf life of 8 days. Unbagged cherry tomato had delayed maturity and ripening; small-sized fruit; uneven color development; low pH, SSC, and DM; and high TA. Although unbagged cherry tomato had lower firmness and weight loss due to delayed ripening, fruit showed moderate to severe incidence of tomato bacterial canker disease (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis) during shelf life. These results indicated that preharvest bagging accelerated fruit maturity and ripening, improved physico-chemical quality, and reduced disease infestation on cherry tomato during shelf life.

Evolution in Value Relevance of Accounting Information

ABSTRACT We address how value relevance of accounting information evolved as the new economy developed. Prior research concludes that accounting information—primarily earnings—has lost relevance. We consider more accounting items and find no decline in combined value relevance from 1962 to 2018. We assess evolution in each item’s value relevance and find increases, most notably for items related to intangible assets, growth opportunities, and alternative performance measures, which are important in the new economy. The number of relevant items also increases. We also consider separately new economy, old economy profit, and old economy loss firms. The trends are more pronounced for, but extend beyond, new economy firms. We base inferences on a nonparametric approach that does not require specifying the valuation relation. Taken together, our findings reveal an evolution to a more nuanced, but not declining, relation between accounting information and share price. JEL Classifications: C14; G10; G18; M40; M41.

Refining of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver derived wood vinegar for excellent preservation of the typical berries

Wood vinegar was pyrolyzed from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver branches and suffered from the different refinery methods, such as the ultra-low freezing and thawing (WVFT), the charcoal adsorbed (WVCA), the activated carbon adsorbed (WVACA), the atmospheric distillation (WVAD80, WVAD90, WVAD100), and the vacuum distillation (WVVD70). Subsequently, two typical berries (cherry tomatoes and strawberries) were treated with the seven refined wood vinegar (5.0 g/L) to evaluate theirs storage performance. The effectiveness of the various refined wood vinegars of the berries were systematically investigated by the weight loss, decay incidence, firmness, pH, color, total soluble solids and vitamin C content. The results demonstrated that the application of WVFT in refined wood vinegar resulted in the significant pH reduction (3.65–4.21), firmness loss (0.74–3.49 N), effectively delayed the weight loss (5.49%–42.43%) and decay incidence (11.11%–38.89%) of the two berries. Besides, the refined wood vinegar remarkably reduced the loss of vitamin C content (18.18–77.58 100 g/mg) and total soluble solids (5.6–10.07 °Brix) of the berries. These results provided the basis for further application of the refined wood vinegar to develop in food preservatives.

A Cistus incanus Extract Blocks Psychological Stress Signaling and Reduces Neurogenic Inflammation and Signs of Aging in Skin, as Shown in In-Vitro Models and a Randomized Clinical Trial

Psychological stress exerts its effects mainly through the release of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which activates inflammatory pathways in skin (inter alia), resulting in redness, extracellular matrix degradation, loss of skin elasticity and firmness, and the appearance of wrinkles—namely, accelerated skin aging. In order to propose a solution to this neurogenic aging phenomenon, we report here on studies using a myricitrin-rich extract of Cistus incanus, a Mediterranean shrub used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory and other diseases. These studies include a CRH receptor (CRH-R1) blocking assay; in vitro inflammatory cytokine reduction under CRH stimulation, and ex vivo NF-kB inhibition; and a double-blind clinical trial performed on highly stressed panelists, evaluating skin inflammation and wrinkling (active formulation vs. placebo control, applied split-face following a computer-generated randomization scheme; 36 subjects recruited and randomized, 30 analyzed; no adverse effects recorded; EMA/INFARMED registration #118505, internally funded). The results show that this extract can effectively block the CRH-R1 receptor, preventing NF-κB activation and the production of related pro-inflammatory cytokines. In a clinical setting, this same extract delivered significant anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects. Taken together, these results demonstrate the value of this extract as a cosmetic active to counter neurogenic inflammation and skin aging.

Physicochemical properties and phytochemical components of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruits with different density at harvest

Reducing waste and controlling fruit quality is a challenge for retailers and processors. The fresh fruit and processing industries are seeking a reliable method to comprehend fruit characteristics to meet consumer demands for high-quality fruit. The harvested white mulberry was divided into five density stages (D1–D5, 0.960–1.060 g/cm3) using a densimetric flotation method, and the effects of fruit density on its physicochemical properties, phenolics content, volatile compounds, and cellular structure were investigated. Low-density fruits (D1, D2) contain less glucose, fructose, and more citric acid, hexanal and methyl acetate. The highest contents of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and syringic acid were found in fruits at the D3 stage, with 64.6 mg/100 g DW, 15.8 mg/100 g DW and 14.1 mg/100 g DW, respectively. They may better eliminate free radicals and promote the health of the body. Moreover, rapid loss of fruit firmness, damage to cell structure, and a decrease in phenolics content after the fruit density exceeded 1.020 g/cm3 (D4, D5) indicate that the fruit is overripe, unsuitable for further storage and should be processed immediately. The presented data demonstrate the effect of fruit density on white mulberry quality and will serve as a valuable resource for retailers and processors.

Mucilage-Based and Calcium Ascorbate Edible Coatings Improve Postharvest Quality and Storability of Minimally Processed Cactus Pear Fruit Stored under Passive Atmosphere

The minimally processed fruit and vegetable industry showed rapid growth worldwide, primarily due to the increasing consumer need for ready-to-eat fresh products characterized by high nutritional, sensory and healthy value. The postharvest life of peeled cactus pear fruits is relatively short, due to the processing operations that affect fruit integrity and cause metabolic disfunctions, as well as pulp browning, microbial growth, loss of firmness, off-flavor development, and nutraceutical value loss. In this study, we investigated the effects of mucilage-based (OFI) and calcium ascorbate edible coating on minimally processed cactus pear summer-ripening fruit, cold stored under passive atmosphere. The effect of the edible coating on the postharvest life, quality attributes, and nutraceutical value of fruit was evaluated by colors, total soluble solids content, carbohydrates; titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, betalains, DPPH, visual quality, and sensorial analysis. Our data showed a significant effect of mucilage-based and calcium ascorbate-based coating on preserving quality, nutritional value, sensorial parameters, and improving postharvest life of minimally processed cactus pear fruits; OFI had the most effective barrier effect. Furthermore, both coating treatments did not negatively affect the natural taste of minimally processed cactus pear fruits, which is an important aspect regarding the use of edible coatings when taste modification is undesirable.

The Potential Roles of the N and P Supplies on the Internal Browning Incidence in Sweet Cherries in the Southern Chile

Southern Chile has experienced a strong increase in sweet cherry production in recent years. However, there are climatic gaps that negatively reduce the fruit quality and yield of exportable fruit, such as the high incidence of rains during flowering and pre-harvest. The use of roof covers has become an agronomic solution that offers protection from weather events, such as rain, which will significantly increase the exportable fruit. However, the use of plastic covers can cause negative impacts on the fruit, such as a loss of firmness and acidity. Currently, the incidence of internal (pulp) browning has reduced the quality of cherries produced in Southern Chile, although research on this subject is largely under explored. Some studies reported that a high content of antioxidants in the fruit, both phenolic and non-phenolic (e.g., ascorbic acid), could reduce the incidence of the physiological disorder of browning. The soils of Southern Chile are characterized by the high content of organic matter, which implies high levels of available nitrogen (N) and a high phosphorus (P) content. Some studies, however, have shown that fertilization with N and P would significantly improve the postharvest quality, shelf life, and the accumulation of antioxidant compounds in fruits, even better than other strategies, including selenium and chitosan applications. However, there needs to be more detailed information on this aspect of the sweet cherry fruit production. The quality attributes and postharvest life of cherries are closely associated with the antioxidant levels of fruits, which could be related to either the soil acidity level of the Chilean Andisols or the levels of P and N in soil or plant tissues. Therefore, the objective of this review was to discuss the role of the N and P supply on the internal browning incidence in sweet cherries and relate it to what is known in other fruits.

Accounting for employee flows

AbstractThis paper examines employee flows and the association with firm earnings and interest rates. We use administrative employer–employee matched panel data from Denmark spanning 17 years and hence exploit actual data on employee arrivals (labor inflows) and departures (labor outflows). Three main findings emerge. First, we condition by firms’ economic conditions. Departures predict earnings increases for prior‐year loss firms, while they predict earnings decreases for prior‐year profit firms, suggesting that this conditioning can help explain the mixed results in the literature. Arrivals predict earnings increases, though only for prior‐year profit firms. These effects are stronger for high‐paid employees than for low‐paid ones. Second, the effects of departures are generally larger than the effects of arrivals, consistent with departures disrupting operations. Third, we find that lenders price employee flow information but only for departures of high‐paid employees, despite the predictive ability of the flow of other employees for future earnings. Overall our results suggest that employee flows predict firm financial performance but are only partially priced by lenders.

Chlorine Dioxide Treatment Modulates Ripening-Related Genes and Antioxidant System to Improve the Storability of Tomato

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is used to maintain quality and safety of fresh produce. However, ClO2 action mechanism in fresh produce is unknown. In this study, firstly, we evaluated the efficacy of ClO2 treatment on the quality, chilling injury, and calyx molding of tomatoes stored at two different temperatures. Then, ClO2 effect on the expression of cell wall- and ripening-related genes and on the activity of antioxidant enzymes was investigated. Tomatoes were treated with gaseous ClO2 for 15 min before transferring them to 13°C for 12 days and/or 4°C for 14 days, followed by 5 days at 20°C (shelf-life conditions). ClO2 treatment marginally reduced the rate of respiration but did not affect ethylene production at 13°C and 4°C storage or at shelf-life conditions. When stored at 13°C, treatment with ClO2 reduced the loss of firmness, with concomitant repression of pectin esterase 1, a cell wall-related gene. Additionally, at 13°C storage conditions, ClO2 treatment maintained tomato quality in terms of soluble solid content, titratable acidity, and color and was associated with the downregulation of the ripening-relatedethylene response factors B3/C1/E1 and the induction of antioxidant genes encoding catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. At 4°C storage conditions, ClO2 at a concentration of 15 ppm not only maintained the firmness and quality of tomatoes but also inhibited pitting during shelf-life with a concomitant increase of catalase activity. Moreover, treatment with 15 ppm ClO2 significantly reduced the calyx molding that is generally observed in fruits stored at 13°C and under shelf-life conditions. Hence, our results indicate that ClO2 treatment effectively maintained tomato quality and inhibited calyx molding by partially regulating ripening-related genes and antioxidant systems, thereby improving the storability of postharvest tomatoes.

Development of coating material by incorporating curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles to maintain the quality of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Nam Dokmai)

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a major postharvest disease that reduces the shelf life of mango ( Mangifera indica L. cv. Nam Dokmai), an indigenous crop of Thailand. Curcumin, a substance in turmeric, has antimicrobial activity, which is hypothesized to be enhanced in the form of nanoparticles. In this research, curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CZNP) were synthesized using a liquid-liquid dispersion method and were incorporated into zein coating material. The effect against C. gloeosporioides was evaluated relative to curcumin and zein mixture solution (CZ) as a control. The results showed that the solution of free curcumin at 100 μg/ml (CZ100) was less effective compared to when curcumin was entrapped in zein nanoparticles at the same amount (CZNP100), which was more effective at inhibiting the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides . It was consistent with the study of disease severity when the curcumin in both forms was mixed in zein coating materials and applied to mangoes. The disease severities of inoculated mangoes treated with CZNP and CZ were significantly retarded (25.93% and 39.79%) compared to the uncoated mangoes (64.13%) after 9 days of storage. Subsequently, their effect also prolonged the postharvest quality of mangoes after 9-day storage in terms of delayed color change and loss of weight and firmness. These results indicated that functionalized curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles added in a biodegradable zein coating significantly suppressed anthracnose disease severity in mango fruit, providing a promising strategy for disease control in mango fruit. • Zein nanoparticles enhanced the effectiveness of entrapped curcumin. • Zein coating added curcumin nanoforms inhibited C. gloeosporioides mycelia growth. • Zein coating resulted in alleviating the anthracnose disease in mangoes. • Curcumin nanoforms added in the coating prolonged mangoes from deterioration. • Both curcumin forms delayed color change, loss of weight and firmness of mangoes.

Innovative edible coatings for postharvest storage of sweet cherries

Sweet cherry is among the most appreciated fruits by consumers, due to its organoleptic and health-promoting properties. However, it is a fruit with reduced shelf life, which limits its availability on the market. Several strategies to improve shelf life of fruits are available, including the use of plant-based edible coatings. This work aims to study the postharvest effect of aqueous (A) and hydroethanolic (H) extracts of medicinal and aromatic plants (Mentha piperita L. (MP), Satureja montana L. (SM) and Thymus vulgaris L. (TV)), Aloe vera (Al), and chitosan (Qh) coatings on physical and quality parameters of cv. Early Bigi. Sweet cherries were stored at 2°C for 14 days (cold storage), then kept at 20°C for more three days to assess shelf life (+ 3 SL). All treatments reduced weight (average of 10%) and firmness (average of 0.9 Nmm-1) losses mainly at the end of cold storage + 3 SL, when compared to control samples (12% and 0.7 Nmm-1). The ripening index showed a delay (average of 20 and 14%, respectively to cold storage and cold storage + 3 SL) in its increase when using aqueous extracts of Satureja montana L. (SMA) and Thymus vulgaris L. (TVA) coatings. Coatings improved the overall antioxidant activity of sweet cherries, without negative effects on the content of bioactive compounds and on the sensory profile of fruits. SMA and TVA coatings present overall positive results, that might indicate that their use could be a safe, natural, effective, beneficial and innovative approach to preserve sweet cherry quality in postharvest storage.

Changes of physico-chemical parameters in relation to storage time and temperature of mango fruit cv. Kent harvested in northern Côte d'Ivoire for export purposes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of mangoes for export. The results revealed that mangoes lose firmness after three days of storage and the pulp turns yellow-orange. The sugar content increases progressively along storage time. However, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity decreases with storage time confirming the decrease of phenol content. As for the activity of polyphenoloxidases (PPO) and peroxidases (POD), it increased during the storage of mangoes suggesting a degradation of phenolic compounds during storage. Furthermore, the study reported a loss of firmness inversely proportional to the time (7, 14, 21-days) and temperature (4, 10, 14 °C) of mango storage. The pulp of mangoes stored at low temperature started to show orange color after 14 days of storage at 10 °C and after 7 days of storage at 14 °C. The sugar content of mangoes stored at 14 °C was higher than that of mangoes stored at 4 and 10 °C. Similarly, phenol content, PAL, PPO and POD activities were lower at 4 and 10 °C and high when mangoes were stored at 14°C. Therefore, storage time and temperature influence harvested mangoes physico-chemical parameters of mangoes. High storage times and temperatures promote rapid ripening of mangoes by increasing sugar content and color, and decreasing pulp firmness. Furthermore, phenol synthesis decrease and oxidation increase was observed. Also, low temperatures delay ripening and preserve the quality of mangoes for up to 21 days. This makes it possible to envisage an export without deterioration of mangoes, which requires a maritime transport of 14 days.

Ethylene scavenging film based on low-density polyethylene incorporating pumice and potassium permanganate and its application to preserve avocados

The ethylene scavenging film was prepared to extend the shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables. This film consisted of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as matrix, the mixture of pumice and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) (weight ratio: 10 to 1) (pumice acted as the support of KMnO4) as active agents, and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) as compatibilizer. The study revealed that low loadings of active agents (1 wt% and 3 wt%) were evenly distributed in the LDPE matrix and were beneficial to the improvement of the mechanical property, crystallinity, and gas barrier performance against oxygen and water vapor. In addition, the film (thickness: 60 μm) incorporating 3 wt% active agents had an ethylene scavenging capacity of 7.31 μmol/(25 in2) within 12 d at 25 °C. Further, the ethylene scavenging film with 3 wt% active agents preserved avocados well for 20 d at 25 °C, inhibited the ethylene and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the packaging headspace, and reduced the flesh firmness loss, while the shelf life of avocados packaged with pure LDPE film was only 10 d.

Control Efficacy of Salicylic Acid Microcapsules against Postharvest Blue Mold in Apple Fruit.

Salicylic acid (SA) is a natural inducer of disease resistance in fruit, but its application in the food industry is limited due to low water solubility. Here, SA was encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) via the host-guest inclusion complexation method, and the efficacy of SA microcapsules (SAM) against blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum in postharvest apple fruit was elucidated. It was observed that SAM was the most effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of P. expansum in vitro. SAM was also superior to SA for control of blue mold under in vivo conditions. Enzyme activity analysis revealed that both SA and SAM enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) in apple fruit, whereas SAM led to higher SOD activities than SA. Total phenolic contents in the SAM group were higher than those in the SA group at the early stage of storage. SAM also improved fruit quality by retarding firmness loss and maintaining higher total soluble solids (TSS) contents. These findings indicate that microcapsules can serve as a promising formulation to load SA for increasing P. expansum inhibition activity and improving quality attributes in apple fruit.

585 Effects of a LED light therapy mask on an ex vivo skin model and clinical signs of aging

The mechanical behavior of the skin is mainly attributed to the structure of the dermal layer. Indeed, the fibrillar network, composed by collagen and elastin fibers linked together by physiological cross-linking, contributes to the resistance and elasticity of the tissue. Age-related changes in skin mechanics are thought to contribute to a large part of skin appearance, e.g. wrinkles, loss of firmness and elasticity. Accumulating evidence has indicated that the light source emitted from a light-emitted diode (LED) has a potential anti-aging effect on human skin.

Effect of Composite Chitosan/Sodium Alginate Gel Coatings on the Quality of Fresh-Cut Purple-Flesh Sweet Potato.

In this study, single-layer coating using chitosan (Ch) and sodium alginate (SA) solutions and their gel coating (ChCSA) formed by layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic deposition using calcium chloride (C) as a cross linking agent were prepared to improve storage qualities and shelf-life of fresh-cut purple-flesh sweet potatoes (PFSP). The preservative effects of single-layer coating in comparison with LbL on the quality parameters of fresh-cut PFSP, including color change, weight loss, firmness, microbial analysis, CO2 production, pH, solid content, total anthocyanin content (TAC), and total phenolic content (TPC) were evaluated during 16 days of storage at 5 °C. Uncoated samples were applicable as a control. The result established the effectiveness of coating in reducing microbial proliferation (~2 times), color changes (~3 times), and weight loss (~4 times) with negligible firmness losses after the storage period. In addition, TAC and TPC were better retained in the coated samples than in the uncoated samples. In contrast, quality deterioration was observed in the uncoated fresh cuts, which progressed with storage time. Relatively, gel-coating ChCSA showed superior effects in preserving the quality of fresh-cut PFSP and could be suggested as a commercial method for preserving fresh-cut purple-flesh sweet potato and other similar roots.

Effect of Aloevera gel /tamarind starch/whey protein based edible coating on shelf life and postharvest quality of ber fruit (Ziziphusmauritiana) stored at 4 ± 1°C and at 25 ± 2°C

SummaryThe research was conducted on ber fruit (Ziziphusmauritiana), in which an edible coating of aloe vera gel/tamarind starch/whey protein concentrate was prepared, applied on ber fruit by dipping method, and packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) to evaluate the effectiveness of the edible coating on the postharvest quality and shelf life. A comparative study between uncoated and coated samples at two different temperatures, i.e., 4 ± 1 °C and 25 ± 2 °C was done. Bers' physiochemical analysis and sensory quality were evaluated for 31 days. The weight loss, pH, TSS, titratable acidity, total sugar, total protein and total phenol in coated ber kept in PP were 37.48%, 5.50, 14.4°Brix, 0.14%, 11.99%, 0.55% and 0.17% by the 27th day of storage at 4 ± 1 °C which turned out to be the best storage condition by showing a delay in the physiochemical changes. Edible coating delayed the loss of firmness and the change in the L*, a* and b* values.

Development and Characterization of Biocomposite Films Based on Polysaccharides Derived from Okra Plant Waste for Food Packaging Application.

Polysaccharide-based composite films were developed using mucilage polysaccharides (OLP) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) extracted from okra leafstalk wastes. The rheological properties of biocomposite OLP/CMC film-forming solutions were characterized using the Power-law model, and fabricated films were characterized for their potential food packaging applications. OLP/CMC solutions exhibited pseudo-plastic fluid characteristics and differences in rheological behavior (n, 0.478-0.743), and flow consistency (K, 1.731-9.154) with increasing content of OLP (5 to 30 % w/w of CMC) were associated with variations in the physical, mechanical, and barrier properties of films. Surface hydrophobicity (24%) increased and oxygen (39%) and water vapor (32%) permeability reduced in OLP/CMC films containing up to 10% OLP. Moreover, a higher content of OLP enhanced the antioxidant activity and thermal stability of OLP/CMC films. Subsequently, OLP/CMC was applied as a coating to preserve cherry tomatoes for 14 days at 30 °C. Quality deterioration characterized by high weight loss (22%), firmness loss (74.62%), and discoloration (∆E, 21.26) occurred in uncoated tomatoes and were within unusable/unmarketable limits based on their visual quality score. In contrast, OLP/CMC effectively minimized quality losses, and coated tomatoes exceeded the limit of marketability after 14 days of storage. This study successfully applied value-added polysaccharides derived from okra plant residues for edible food packaging.

Hydrogen sulfide treatment improves quality attributes via regulating the antioxidant system in goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.)

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been identified as a critical gaseous signaling chemical. Herein, the effects of H2S treatment on the postharvest goji berries and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined. H2S application delayed the decay index, loss of firmness, color, flavor, and total sugars and loss of total protein, betaine and ascorbic acid in goji berries during postharvest storage. Meanwhile, H2S noticeably reduced the MDA, H2O2, and O2− accumulation. Additionally, it was shown that H2S increased the activity of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while decreased the quantity of lipoxygenase (LOX). The mRNA expression of LDC, DCD, CAT, APX, POD, GR and SOD was up-regulated but LOX, RBOH-b and RBOH-e was down-regulated in goji berries after H2S treatment. Altogether, H2S could efficiently delay the senescence, improves postharvest quality, increase the bioactive compounds accumulation, and boost the antioxidant capacity of goji berries through modulating antioxidant enzyme system.

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

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.