Postharvest Quality Of Tomato Fruits Research Articles

Enhancing post-harvest quality of tomato fruits with chitosan oligosaccharide-zinc oxide nanocomposites: A study on biocompatibility, quality improvement, and carotenoid enhancement

In this study, a new composite with combination of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), termed Chitosan Oligosaccharide-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites (COS-ZnO NC), was designed to enhance the quality of tomato fruits during postharvest storage. SEM analysis showed a uniform distribution of COS-ZnO NC films on tomato surfaces, indicating high biocompatibility, while the FTIR spectrum confirmed the interaction of COS and ZnO NPs via hydrogen bonds. The COS-ZnO NC exerts positive effects on post-harvest quality of tomato fruits, including significantly reduced water loss, fewer skin wrinkles, increased sugar-acid ratio, and enhanced vitamin C and carotenoids accumulation. Furthermore, COS-ZnO NC induces transcription of carotenoid biosynthesis genes and promotes carotenoids storage in the chromoplast. These results suggest that the COS-ZnO NC film can significantly improve the quality traits of tomato fruits, and therefore is potential in post-harvest storage of tomato fruits.

Postharvest Quality Improvement of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Fruit Using a Nanomultilayer Coating Containing Aloe vera.

The effectiveness of an alginate/chitosan nanomultilayer coating without (NM) and with Aloe vera liquid fraction (NM+Av) was evaluated on the postharvest quality of tomato fruit at 20 °C and 85% relative humidity (RH) to simulate direct consumption. Both nanomultilayer coatings had comparable effects on firmness and pH values. However, the NM+Av coating significantly reduced weight loss (4.5 ± 0.2%) and molds and yeasts (3.5-4.0 log CFU g-1) compared to uncoated fruit (16.2 ± 1.2% and 8.0 ± 0.0 log CFU g-1, respectively). It notably lowered O2 consumption by 70% and a 52% decrease in CO2 production, inhibiting ethylene synthesis. Visual evaluation confirmed NM+Av's efficacy in preserving the postharvest quality of tomato. The preservation of color, indicated by the Minolta color (a*/b*) values, demonstrated NM+Av's ability to keep the light red stage compared to uncoated fruit. The favorable effects of NM+Av coating on enhancing postharvest quality indicates it as a potential alternative for large-scale tomato fruit preservation.

Ellagic Acid Treatment Improves Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruits by Enhancing the Antioxidant Defense System

Ellagic acid (EA) is a bioactive polyphenol compound with numerous biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antiestrogenic, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. In this research, we investigated the effect of postharvest tomato fruits with EA treatment. Our results showed that at 25°C for 20 days, compared to a control group, the weight loss rate, titratable acidity, and soluble solid concentration of tomato fruits treated with 50 μM EA were lower. The content of soluble protein in the EA-treated group was approximately 1.65 times higher than in the control group, and EA treatment greatly inhibited the changes in lycopene and vitamin C content. Moreover, EA treatment reduced malondialdehyde content, electrolyte leakage, and the production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, EA treatment upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and induced the activities of the antioxidant enzyme. In summary, our results showed that EA could retard senescence and preserve the quality characteristics of harvested tomato fruits via enhancing the antioxidant responses.

Effect of Aloe vera gel-based edible coating on microbiological safety and quality of tomato

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of Aloe vera gel (AVG) based on edible coating solutions on tomatoes to maintain the postharvest quality during storage at 10°C for 30 days. The AVG coating solutions were prepared with different percentages of extracted gel ranging from 0 to 80% with addition to calcium chloride (2%), ascorbic acid (4%), carboxymethyl cellulose (3%), glycerol (2%), and oleic acid (3 mL). Results showed that coating solutions containing 60 to 80% AVG had better results than coating solutions containing 0 to 40% gel. Contents of ascorbic acid, sugar, flavonoids, carotenoids, lycopene, and pectin remained higher, and total microbial count remained lesser in fruits treated with a higher concentration of AVG over the storage time. Tomatoes coated with 60% and 80% Aloe vera gel also showed maximum antioxidant efficiency, absence of E. coli, and no signs of fungal (Botrytis cinerea) growth on tomatoes. In conclusion, applying 60–80% AVG edible coatings might be suggested to maintain the postharvest quality of tomato fruit.

Resveratrol improves postharvest quality of tomato fruists by enhancing the antioxidant defense system and inhibiting ethylene biosynthesis.

Resveratrol, the most widely studied phytoalexin, derived from the skin of grapes and other fruits. Evidence from numerous studies have confirmed its extensive bioactivities, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammatory and anticancer, as well as to promote antiaging effects in organisms. However, the effect of resveratrol on prolonging the postharvest storage of tomato fruits is still unknown. Here, our data provide evidence that tomato fruits applied 200μM resveratrol displayed a significant delay in changes of weight loss, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentration, solubleprotein, vitamin C and lycopene content compared to control fruits during storage. In addition, resveratrol treatment could stimulate the antioxidant defense system to inhibit the production of ROS and down-regulate the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes. Taken together, our results suggest that resveratrol could benefit in delaying senescence and preserving the postharvest quality of tomato fruits.

Effect of Harvesting Stages and Calcium Chloride Application on Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruits

Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes, which are beneficial to human health. They are one of the most commercially high-value vegetable crops that experience a huge postharvest loss after harvest. The present experiment is conducted to investigate the effect of different maturity stages (mature green, breaker, and half-ripe stage), pre- and post-harvest treatment with different concentrations (0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, w/v) of calcium chloride (CaCl2) on the postharvest performance, antioxidant and enzymatic activity of lowland tomato fruits, stored at ambient temperature (28 ± 2 °C and 75 ± 5% RH). Tomato fruit of mature green stage treated with 2% CaCl2 significantly (p = 0.05) declined the ethylene production (15.53%), weight loss (16.43%), and delayed color development by slowly synthesizes the lycopene content as well as extended the shelf life. The maximum amount of total phenolic content (TPC) was demonstrated at the highest level of CaCl2 (2%) after 20 days of storage life at ambient conditions. The concentration of CaCl2 influenced the activity of different plant defense enzymes, and the higher doses of CaCl2 (2%) accelerated the activity of peroxidase (POD) (13%), polyphenol oxidase (POP) (7.3%), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) (8.5%) relative to that of the control samples. Therefore, the tomato producers and traders could extend the storage duration of tomato fruits by harvesting at the mature green stage and applying 2% CaCl2 in both pre-and postharvest at ambient storage conditions.

Regulation of Sugar Metabolism by Methyl Jasmonate to Improve the Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruit

Regulation of Sugar Metabolism by Methyl Jasmonate to Improve the Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruit

Efficacy of moringa leaf extract and carboxymethyl cellulose on optimizing postharvest quality of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) harvested at different maturity stages

Efficacy of moringa leaf extract and carboxymethyl cellulose on optimizing postharvest quality of tomato fruit (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) harvested at different maturity stages

Combining Chitosan and Vanillin to Retain Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruit during Ambient Temperature Storage

Tomato, being a climacteric crop, has a relatively short postharvest life due to several factors such as postharvest diseases, accelerated ripening, and senescence that trigger losses in quantity and quality. Chemicals are widely used to control postharvest disease. Inaptly, it leads to detrimental effects on human health, environment and it is leads to increased disease resistance. Chitosan and vanillin could be an alternative to disease control, maintain fruit quality, and prolong shelf life. The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of chitosan and vanillin coating on the tomato fruit’s physicochemical quality during storage at 26 ± 2 °C/60 ± 5% relative humidity. Chitosan and vanillin in aqueous solutions i.e., 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 0.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, and 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, respectively, were used as edible coating. The analysis was evaluated at 5-day intervals. The results revealed that 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin significantly reduced disease incidence and disease severity by 74.16% and 79%, respectively, as well delaying weight loss up to 90% and reducing changes in firmness, soluble solids concentration, and color score. These coatings also reduced the rate of respiration and the rate of ethylene production in comparison to the control and fruit treated with 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin. Furthermore, ascorbic acid content and the antioxidant properties of tomato were retained while shelf life was prolonged to 25 days without any negative effects on fruit postharvest quality.

Cultivo do tomateiro em ambiente protegido sob diferentes tensões de água no solo

Diferentes cultivares de tomateiro podem apresentar necessidades hídricas diferenciadas, tornando-se indispensável o estudo da demanda hídrica. Desta forma, objetivou-se avaliar a influência de diferentes tensões de água no solo sobre a produção e qualidade pós-colheita de frutos do tomateiro, cultivar Dominador F1, sob cultivo protegido e irrigado por gotejamento. O experimento foi instalado em casa de vegetação com delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por seis tensões de água no solo como indicativos do momento de irrigar. As tensões preestabelecidas foram 20, 45, 70, 95, 120 e 145 kPa a 20 cm de profundidade. Aos 140 dias após o transplantio as variáveis avaliadas foram: produção total, comercial e não comercial de frutos; produtividade total, comercial e não comercial de frutos; número de frutos por planta; classificação dos frutos comerciais; massa média dos frutos comerciais; incidência de podridão apical (%); eficiência no uso da água (EUA); acidez titulável (AT); sólidos solúveis totais (SST); pH; relação sólidos solúveis totais e acidez titulável (SST/AT); pectina solúvel; vitamina C; firmeza; coloração e teor de macro e micronutrientes da parte aérea. Os resultados demonstraram que para a obtenção dos maiores valores de produção e produtividade de frutos comerciais, número de frutos por planta, número de frutos grandes e médios e massa média de frutos comerciais, deve-se irrigar quando a tensão de água no solo estiver, em torno, de 20 kPa, à profundidade de 0,20 m. As diferentes tensões de água no solo não influenciaram, significativamente, a acidez titulável, pH, relação sólidos solúveis totais e acidez titulável e pectina solúvel. A eficiência no uso da água, em função das tensões de água no solo, aumentou até a tensão de 116,57 kPa. Das características de qualidade avaliadas, os teores de sólidos solúveis totais, de vitamina C, firmeza e índice L* de coloração, apresentaram efeito significativo com as tensões de água no solo.

Candelilla Wax Edible Coating with Flourensia cernua Bioactives to Prolong the Quality of Tomato Fruits.

The improvement of the postharvest quality of tomato fruits was evaluated using an edible coating functionalized with an Flourensia cernua extract evaluating the antifungal, structural, barrier, and optical properties. The formulation and evaluation of an edible coating and its application on tomato was evaluated using a response surface methodology to determine the ideal concentrations of candelilla wax, whey protein, and glycerol. Edible films showed good barrier properties, with water vapor permeability varying from 0.435–0.404 g mm/m2 day kPa. The addition o F. cernua extract showed significant improvement in the transparency of films. The edible coating applied to tomato reduced weight and firmness loss. The sensory evaluation proved that the product obtained is acceptable for consumers. The edible coating added with F. cernua extract was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi and the visual appearance at the end of storage confirmed the beneficial effect of the edible coating.

Use of a Copper- and Zinc-Modified Natural Zeolite to Improve Ethylene Removal and Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruit

Ethylene stimulates ripening and senescence by promoting chlorophyll loss, red pigment synthesis, and softening of tomatoes and diminishes their shelf-life. The aim of this work was to study the performance of a novel copper- and zinc-based ethylene scavenger supported by ion-exchange on a naturally occurring zeolite by analyzing its ethylene adsorption capacity and the influence of ethylene scavenging on quality attributes during the postharvest life of tomatoes. The influence of copper- and zinc-modified zeolites on ethylene and carbon dioxide concentrations and postharvest quality of tomatoes was compared with unmodified zeolite. Interactions among ethylene molecules and zeolite surface were studied by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy in operando mode. The percentage of ethylene removal after eight days of storage was 57% and 37% for the modified zeolite and pristine zeolite, respectively. The major ethylene increase appeared at 9.5 days for the modified zeolite treatment. Additionally, modified zeolite delayed carbon dioxide formation by six days. Zeolite modified with copper and zinc cations favors ethylene removal and delays tomato fruit ripening. However, the single use of unmodified zeolite should be reconsidered due to its ripening promoting effects in tomatoes at high moisture storage conditions, as water molecules block active sites for ethylene adsorption.

B- Evaluation The Storage Ability of Two Tomato Hybrids Fruits (lycopersicon Esculentum Mill) Grown under Greenhouse Condition in Response to Humic Acid

The study was conducted to undertake the response of two tomato hybrids (Royal and Sandra), to humic acid at level (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6) g.L-1 during storage time on the postharvest quality of tomato fruits. Plants were grown at vegetable research field, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Dohuk, Kurdistan during the growing season of 2015-2016, in plastic house. Fruits of the two hybrids were harvested manually in the early morning at the maturity stage of fruit growth. We did not observed a clear difference between the two hybrids in fruits quality characteristics. While, when plant of tomato hybrids treated with humic acid cuased significantly increase in V.C., total acidity, N%, K%, and P% of fruit. In addition, when storage period of fruits was advanced from 7to 14 days, a significant increase was observed in total soluble solids of fruits, on the contrary recorded a significant decreased with progressing time of fruit storage in acidity, vitamin C, N% and K%. The interaction effect of the three factors under study on the quality of fruits showed a difference behavior depending on the response of studied features.

Sage Essential Oil Improves the Effectiveness of Aloe vera Gel on Postharvest Quality of Tomato Fruit

Edible coating is extensively applied for fresh produce preservation. In the present study, Aloe vera gel (AV) alone or combined with sage essential oil (EO; 0.1% or 0.5%) was used as fruit edible coating in tomatoes. Following treatments, tomatoes were stored at 11 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) up to 14 days and analyzed for quality maintenance compared with uncoated fruits (control). Results showed that both AV and EO decreased decay symptoms with more pronounced effects on low EO concentration (i.e., 0.1%). The application of 10% of AV coating decreased fruit ethylene emission while EO (0.1% and 0.5%) application increased ethylene emission and respiration rates. AV coating decreased acidity, β-carotene, lycopene content and maintained fruit firmness. High levels of EO (0.5%) increased weight loss but decreased fruits’ redness, chroma, total soluble solids, acidity, β-carotene and lycopene content. Total phenolic content and antioxidants maintained or increased during storage when treated with AV and/or EO. Low levels of EO (0.1%) maintained or improved fruit quality characteristics during storage, and this was mirrored by the sensory evaluation preference (including the AV application) and quality related attributes.

Preharvest application of sodium nitroprusside improves tomato fruit quality and alleviates chilling injury during cold storage

ABSTRACT Nitric oxide (NO), a PGR, is involved in numerous physiological and molecular responses in higher plants. The study was undertaken to determine how preharvest application of NO affected physical and biochemical postharvest properties and chilling injury of tomato fruit, cv. Newton, during cold storage. Tomato plants were treated twice with 200 or 500 µM sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or distilled water, at 41 and 49 days post anthesis. For postharvest analyses samples were taken at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 days of storage at 1 ± 0.2°C and 90% ± 5% RH and transferred to ambient temperature (~24°C) for 2 days. The SNP delayed weight loss, increased total soluble solids, and maintained firmness of fruit during storage. Vitamin C, titratable acidity, lycopene content, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase enzyme activity were higher due to SNP treatment than for the control. The SNP treatment decreased percent chilling injury. The 200 μm SNP concentration was best for preserving postharvest quality of tomato fruit. Preharvest application of SNP improved postharvest quality and mitigated deleterious effects of chilling injury of tomato fruit during cold storage.

EFECTO DE UN RECUBRIMIENTO DE ALMIDÓN DE MAÍZ OBTENIDO MEDIANTE LA COMBINACIÓN DEL PROCESO DE EXTRUSIÓN Y TÉCNICA DE CASTING SOBRE LA CALIDAD POSCOSECHA DE TOMATE

The aim of this work was to validate the effect of a corn starch coating obtained by the combination of the extrusion process and casting technique on the postharvest quality of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Imperial. To obtain the study coating, corn starch and plasticizers (sorbitol and glycerol) were processed in a twin screw extruder and subsequently casting technique was used to get the final formulation. Three treatments in freshly harvested tomatoes were applied: Control, Carnauba Wax (CW) and Corn Starch Coating (CSG). Weight Loss (WL), Firmness (F), External Color (∆E), pH, Titratable Acidity (TA), Respiration Rate (RR) and Ethylene Production (EP), were evaluated. The results of this study indicated that CSG was the most effective treatment to maintain physical and chemical quality of tomato cv. Imperial stored at 12 °C. Regarding to WL, CW-covered fruit showed the best results. Likewise, CSG-covered fruit presented the minor RR and EP. Therefore, corn starch coating obtained by a combination of extrusion process and casting technique could be employed to maintain the postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of tomato fruit.

Productive and qualitative performance of tomato plants as a function of the application of plant growth regulators and mineral nutrients

The tomato fruit is rich in antioxidant compounds and has great nutritional and economic importance, annually promoting research on the nutritional and productive characteristics. The present study aimed to evaluate whether foliar application of commercial products based on growth regulators [auxin, cytokinin and gibberellin (Ax+CK+GA)], micronutrients [cobalt and molybdenum (Mi)] and mixtures of macro and micronutrients [nitrogen, boron, copper, molybdenum and zinc (Ma+Mi)], isolated and in combination, increase productivity and improve the post-harvest quality of tomato fruits (Predador F1). The experiment design used randomized blocks, with seven treatments and four repetitions, which were (T1) control; (T2) Ax+CK+GA; (T3) Ma+Mi; (T4) Mi; (T5) Ax+CK+GA + (Ma+Mi); (T6) Ax+CK+GA + Mi; and (T7) Ax+CK+GA + Mi + (Ma+Mi). The variables production, precocity, soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio (SS/TA), pH, total soluble sugars, ascorbic acid and weight loss were evaluated. The Ax+CK+GA application, isolated or in combination with Ma+Mi, promoted the precocity, and the use of isolated Ax+CK+GA and Mi improved the tomato plant productivity. The growth regulators, macro and micronutrients, isolated or in combination, increased the ascorbic acid content in the fruits.

Study on the efficiency of ethylene scavengers on the maintenance of postharvest quality of tomato fruit

The objectives of this study were to achieve the best level of each ethylene scavenger and evaluate the effect of selected levels of treatments on some quality traits of tomato during storage. Tomato fruits were subjected to four levels of treatments: palladium-promoted nano zeolite, KMnO4-promoted nano zeolite, 1-MCP, CaCl2, salicylic acid (SA) and UV-C. The sampling was done at 0, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 35th days of cold storage. The results showed that palladium-promoted nano zeolite 5%, KMnO4-promoted nano zeolite 20%, 1-MCP 30 ppm, CaCl2 2%, SA 1% and UV-C 15 min levels had the most ethylene scavenging function. Effectiveness of the treatments in ethylene scavenging was in the order: palladium > KMnO4 > 1-MCP > SA = CaCl2 > UV-C. The palladium-promoted nano zeolite 5% had more positive effects on phenol content, polygalacturonase activity, lycopene content, fruit firmness and weight loss, and UV-C 15 min had effect on decay severity as compared to the other treatments. Overall, palladium-promoted nano zeolite 5% could be considered not only as favorable tool in tomato shelf life extension but also in preservation of quality characteristics of tomato fruits during storage. Moreover, the UV-C 15 min treatment could be an effective method for reducing decay severity and maintaining postharvest quality of tomato fruits.

Influence of storage environment, maturity stage and pre-storage disinfection treatments on tomato fruit quality during winter in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The aim of this study was to explore influence of evaporative cooling (EC), pre-storage disinfection treatments and maturity stage at harvest on postharvest quality of tomato fruit. The tomato samples (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Nemonetta) were harvested, stored for 28 days and data were collected every seven days. The pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), firmness, colour, weight loss (PWL) and marketability percentage were analysed. The temperature difference between ambient storage and EC at the fan varied between 4 and 7°C, the relative humidity (RH) varied between 31 and 86%, while at different locations inside the EC it varied between 2-3°C and 5-8%, respectively. Maturity had significant influence on the overall quality of tomatoes. The pH value of green, pink and red tomato was 4.86 and 5.03. The TTA content, the TSS content significantly affected over the 14days of storage. TSS:TA was found to be in the range of 7.8-33.9. The EC storage shows a higher firmness and hue angle, when compared to the ambient conditions stored tomatoes. Compared to ambient storage, EC storage reduced the PWL by 7-10% over 30days, while ambient storage took 15days. EC storage and pre-storage treatments improved the shelf-life and marketability of tomatoes. However, variation in temperature and RH inside EC could affect the storability of the produce.

Bio-Efficacy Evaluation of Ethephon 39% Sl on Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicuml.) Fruits

The present experiment was undertaken to study the effect of ethephon 39%SL on post-harvest quality of Tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicon L.). The mature green tomato fruits were subjected to aqueous solution of ethephon 39%SL @ 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 and 3500 ppm to record the data on colour development of fruit. Colour of fruits was observed to be improved with ethephon applications and maximized yellow colour development was noticed from 5th day of ripening period. The weight loss higher with concentration of ethephon and ripening interval. Upto 7th day of treatment fruit not showed any symptoms of rotting. But fruit firmness gradually reduced with advancement of storage in the treatments and at 3500ppm ethephon 39%SL treatment. The quality of fruit especially lycopene and TSS content increased with advancement of ripening period. Treatment with ethephon 39%SL @ 2500 ppm resulted in adequate ripening of fruits with uniform red colour, acceptable quality and better than all treatments of ethephon.