Shelf Life Of Tomatoes Research Articles

Tomato redness for assessing ozone treatment to extend the shelf life

Ozone could be seen as an alternative to refrigeration in order to enhance tomato shelf life in areas where cold facilities are not available. However, the effect of ozone on fruit ripening and quality is still unclear. From the other side, it is well known that tomato ripening can be correlated to the development of red color. Therefore, experiments were carried out to develop a redness index to characterize the dynamics of ripening which was further used to characterize the effect of ozone on storage and ripening. Several gaseous ozone treatments were applied. Color changes from green to red were monitored. Ozone treatment delayed both the development of red color as well as of rotting. Color development and rotting followed a trend like that described by Hill’s equation. Shelf life was enhanced by 12 days when treated tomatoes were stored at 15 °C. The longer shelf like was mainly due to a reduction in surface microbial count. Analysis through mathematical modeling allowed establishing the dynamics of shelf life as a function of red color development.

Methyl jasmonate coupled with modified atmosphere packaging to extend shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) during cold storage

SummaryThe effects of methyl jasmonate coupled with modified atmosphere packaging (MJ+MAP) on the quality and shelf life of mature green tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were investigated during cold storage at 5 °C. Tomatoes were treated with 10−4 m MJ and packaged under 5%O2/5%CO2/90%N2 in a plastic bag. The effects of MJ+MAP were compared with control as well as heat treated (HT) samples. Control samples were tomatoes packaged under atmospheric air. HT samples were prepared by dipping tomatoes in hot water at 50 °C for 3 min and packaged under atmospheric air. The results showed that MJ+MAP and HT could delay ethylene production during tomato ripening and consequently slowed down the softening rate. MJ+MAP tomatoes showed better quality and less chilling injury (CI) symptoms than HT and control samples. Based on a nine‐point score, shelf life criteria assumed that rejection would occur when the sensory attributes declined below 5. Control and HT overall acceptance scores were shown to fall below 5 scores after 3 and 6 weeks storage, while MJ+MAP had overall acceptance scores above 5 for up to 9 weeks. Control and HT samples could be stored for about 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, while MJ+MAP tomatoes could be stored for up to 9 weeks.

The effect of cultivar, maturity stage and storage environment on quality of tomatoes

Storability of two tomato varieties harvested at different maturity stages was studied under ambient and in a multi-layer pads evaporative cooler in semi-arid eastern part of Ethiopia. The treatments consisted a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial combination of variety, maturity stage and storage environment. The experiment was conducted using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The average differences in relative humidity and dry bulb temperature between ambient and inside the cooler were 54.8% and 15.1 °C, respectively. The evaporative cooler reduced dry bulb temperature by 5 °C and raised the relative humidity by 18% compared to single pad evaporative cooler. Furthermore, the temperature and relative humidity in the cooler were maintained relatively constant compared to the ambient conditions. The cooling efficiency of the multi-layer pad evaporative cooler also varied from 68.3% to 84.0%. Thus, the shelf life of tomatoes kept in the unit was substantially increased. Roma VF tomato harvested at mature green stage maintained better chemical quality and marketability during storage. Under arid and semi-arid conditions, where postharvest loss under ambient conditions is high, the multi-layer evaporative cooler could improve shelf life of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables by reducing temperature and increasing relative humidity.

Electronic‐nose technique: Potential for monitoring maturity and shelf life of tomatoes

An electronic nose (E‐nose) was used to evaluate the maturity and to monitor the shelf life of tomatoes. Results showed that pink‐stage fruit could be distinguished from light‐red stage and red‐stage ones based on the E‐nose using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The E‐nose was able to classify samples having different firmnesses using PCA. By means of partial least squares (PLS) based on E‐nose sensor response signals, fruit firmness was predicted and the correlation between the predicted and measured values were 0.936. A clear distinction of initially light‐red fruit during storage from Days 1–6, Days 7–11 and Days 14–17 was obtainable by the E‐nose using PCA and LDA. It was also possible to distinguish storage of initially red‐stage fruit during storage from Days 1–5, Days 6–11 and Days 14–17 using LDA. The shelf life by PLS models using the E‐nose sensor response signals were predicted and the coefficients were 0.981 and 0.968 for initially light‐red stage fruit and red‐stage fruit, respectively. Research has shown that the E‐nose has sufficient sensitivity and resolution to evaluate tomato fruit maturity and to predict firmness. The shelf life of light‐red stage and red‐stage fruit can be satisfactorily evaluated also.

Monitoring storage shelf life of tomato using electronic nose technique

Electronic nose technology offers non-destructive alternative to sense aroma, can be used to assess fruit ripening stage during shelf life. The objective of this study was to monitor tomato storage shelf life during two storage treatments using PEN 2 electronic nose (E-nose). Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used to distinguish the different tomato storage time. The obtained results proved that tomato with different storage time can be monitored by the E-nose, but very clear separation among all groups of different storage time was not achieved. By PCA and LDA, E-nose could more clearly discrimination storage time of tomato in carton box than one in folded bag. The correlations between the measured and predicted values of fruit quality attribute (soluble solids content, pH, and puncture force) showed poor prediction performance on the base of signals of E-nose sensors.

TOMATO FRUIT YIELD AND QUALITY AS AFFECTED BY GRAFTING AND GROWING SYSTEM

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of grafting on yield, quality and shelf life of tomato using simplified open soilless system vs. conventional soil cultivation. The experiment was carried out at Al-Karama station which represents areas north of the Dead Sea where soil salinity is the limiting factor for higher yields. Cecilia F1 cv. (most commercial tomato cultivar grown in Jordan) grafted on two rootstocks (He-man and Spirit) was compared with non-grafted Cecilia (control) plants in both simplified open soilless system (containers filled with volcanic tuff) and conventional soil cultivation. Uniform 45 days-old seedlings of grafted and nongrafted Cecilia were transplanted in two 500m 2 uncontrolled plastic houses on Nov. 4, 2004, irrigated with nutrient solution after taking into consideration nutrients available in irrigation water. Fruits were harvested at full mature stage to determine fruit yield, number of fruits per plant and fruit weight. Random fruit samples from cluster 3 and 5 were used to determine fruit outer and inner quality and shelf life. The results showed that fruit yield was improved by grafting in both growing systems. Fruit yield increased by 12-27% in soilless cultivation and by 16-38% in soil cultivation with grafting Cecilia on He-Man and Spirit, respectively. Fruit quality in terms of total soluble solids, antioxidant capacities, vitamin C, lycopene and βcarotene content were reduced or slightly improved by grafting in both growing systems. However, fruit size and shelf life were not affected and fruit firmness improved by grafting but these parameters were improved in soilless as compared with soil cultivation. This variations in our results between soilless and soil cultivation and the behavior of the rootstocks might due to the fact that plants grown in soilless culture were not under salt stress as compared with those grown in soil. The result also showed that using simplified open soilless system improved productivity and fruit quality in terms of fruit size, shelf life and firmness. However, more studies needed o determine the effect of grafting on inner quality of tomato fruit.

Effect of addition of sodium dodecyl sulfite on physical properties of wheat gluten films

Films were made from the wheat glutens treated with 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% (wt% of gluten) of sodium dodecyl sulfite (SDS) in order to improve the properties of the films. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. An addition of SDS in wheat glutens prior to forming films significantly increased the elongation at break (E) (P<0.05) and reduced notably the water vapor permeability (WVP) (P<0.05). In contrast, a decrease in the tensile strength (TS) of the films from gluten containing-SDS was found. Moreover, a significant decrease in Po2 and Pco2 of films from gluten treated with SDS was noticed. Although SDS-treated gluten film was slightly more yellow and darker than control one, it was not visually detrimental. It is indicated that the treatment with SDS prior to forming films greatly enhances the mechanical properties of wheat gluten films. The obivous improvement in water vapor permeability and extensibility of gluten films means that the use of SDS is a potential choice for improving properties of gluten filsm. The edible film was used to preserve tomatoes. The experimental results show that the shelf life of tomatoes coated with the edible film is extended, and the nutritional quality is kept well.

QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF TOMATOES SUBMITTED TO DIFFERENT POSTHARVEST TREATMENTS

Shipping tomatoes to distant markets is always a great challenge for tomato growers in tropical countries. Delaying ripening can be a useful technique to maintain quality during transportation. This work investigated the ability of different postharvest treatments to extend the shelf life of tomatoes. 'Carmen' tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit, were harvested at the breaker stage in commercial fields in Goias, Brazil. After harvest, fruit with no external blemishes were graded for weight (250±5 g) and diameter (6±0.5 cm), and treated with coconut grease (applied to the stem end), 1 - methylcyclopropene (1000 nl.L -1 ), wrapped in plastic films (18 μm thickness), and control. Fruit were stored for 10 days under refrigerated conditions (10±0.5°C/90-95% RH) and were analyzed every 2 days for weight loss, firmness, color (L*a*b*), and total carotenoids. Weight loss increased during the storage period. Control fruit and fruit treated with 1-MCP lost around 4% of their initial weight, whereas fruit treated with coconut grease in the stem end lost around 2%. Fruit stored under modified atmosphere showed less weight loss compared with other treatments. Treatment with 1-MCP delayed fruit softening. At the end of the storage period fruit treated with the ethylene antagonist had a firmness that was 50% higher than control fruit. Application of 1-MCP significantly delayed chlorophyll degradation and concomitant synthesis of carotenoid pigments. After 10 days, 1-MCP-treated fruit had a predominant green color when compared with other treatments.

Electronic nose systems to study shelf life and cultivar effect on tomato aroma profile

The performance of a quartz microbalance based electronic nose (E-nose) and a mass spectrometry based electronic nose (MSE-nose) for tomato aroma profiling has been evaluated. Solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) headspace sampling combined with gas chromatography (GC) has been used as a reference method. In the first experiment, the changes in tomato aroma profiles of two different cultivars have been monitored during shelf life (Days 1, 8, 12 and 19). The score plot of the principal component analysis (PCA) for the E-nose measurements shows a slight shift along the first principal component corresponding to an increasing number of days of shelf life. However, the tomato aroma profiles measured on Days 1 and 8 could not be discriminated by the E-nose. In contrast, MSE-nose score plots indicated an evident change in aroma profile with shelf life. The loading plots of the PCA reveals that mainly three discriminant mass to charge ratios ( m/z = 93, 43 and 57) are responsible of the observed shelf life effect in both cultivars. These fragments indicate that β-phellandrene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 1-nitropentane and 2-methylbutanol undergo important concentration changes during shelf life of tomatoes. In the second experiment, the aroma differences between cultivars were analysed by means of the electronic nose systems. A clear distinction between cultivars based on MSE-nose measurements is obtained; however, based on E-nose measurements it is difficult to discriminate between tomato varieties in two dimensions.

Produtividade, qualidade dos frutos e estado nutricional do tomateiro tipo longa vida conduzido com um cacho, em cultivo hidropônico, em função das fontes de nutrientes

Avaliou-se a produtividade, qualidade dos frutos e estado nutricional do tomateiro longa vida, conduzido com um cacho e cultivado em soluções nutritivas preparadas com diferentes conjuntos de fontes de nutrientes. O experimento foi conduzido de 04/05/99 a 13/09/99 em casa de vegetação da UFV. Foram avaliados dois conjuntos de fontes de nutrientes para compor as soluções de crescimento vegetativo e dois para as soluções de frutificação. As combinações desses conjuntos deram origem a quatro tratamentos que foram dispostos no delineamento de blocos ao acaso com oito repetições. As mudas de tomate, híbrido Carmen, com 36 dias de idade foram colocadas em vasos de 8,6 L, com espaçamento de 0,35 x 0,70 m. Foi feita análise foliar para determinar o estado nutricional da planta. Avaliou-se também a partição dos nutrientes Ca, Mg e K no fruto. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias dos tratamentos, comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Para as características avaliadas não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos. A produção média de frutos por planta foi de 920 g, com ciclo de 96 dias, o que corresponderia no espaçamento adotado à produtividade média de 142 t ha-1 ano-1. A concentração de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S, nas folhas foram, respectivamente, 3,18; 1,25; 5,11; 4,50; 0,88; e 1,79 dag kg-1, e as concentrações de Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn e B foram, respectivamente, 209; 96; 10; 665; e 209 mg kg-1. No fruto o Ca e K apresentaram maior concentração na região proximal ao pedúnculo, ao contrário do Mg, que nessa porção apresentou menor concentração.

Calidad postcosecha de tomates almacenados en atmósferas controladas

Las atmósferas controladas alargan la vida en estante del tomate, permitiendo su cosecha en estados de madurez más avanzados y a su vez afectando su calidad. El objetivo de este experimento fue estudiar los efectos que atmósferas controladas con bajas concentraciones de oxígeno y libres de dióxido de carbono y etileno, producen sobre el color, la firmeza y los principales componentes del sabor de frutos de tomate cultivar Diva. Durante abril de 1998, frutos cosechados con grado de color 3 (USDA) en INTA Balcarce (Argentina) fueron almacenados en frascos herméticos de 3 L a 12°C durante 36 días. El diseño fue completamente aleatorizado con tres repeticiones. Cada frasco poseía cuatro frutos, los que constituyeron la unidad experimental. Los tratamientos fueron cuatro, consistiendo en un flujo continuo de: a) 1%, b) 3%, c) 5% y d) 21% de O2 (testigo) completando con N2 hasta 100%. El color, medido con un colorímetro, evolucionó más lentamente y la firmeza se retuvo por más tiempo a medida que se redujo la concentración de oxígeno. Con 5% de oxígeno el color final no difirió del testigo, con 3% sólo fue igual al exponerlos luego a 20°C, no alcanzándose una coloración normal con 1%. Por otra parte, y en todos los tratamientos por igual, los sólidos solubles y la acidez fueron menores y el pH fue mayor que al inicio. El color y la firmeza preferidos por los consumidores (Índice de color »12 y firmeza » 65 KPa) fueron alcanzados a los 7 días de almacenamiento con 21% de O2, a los 12 con 5%, a los 14 con 3% y a los 21 con 1%, correspondiéndose con valores decrecientes de la relación sólidos solubles/acidez titulable. Esto indicaría que frutos externamente semejantes poseerían propiedades organolépticas diferentes. Los efectos observados estarían asociados no sólo a la menor tensión de oxígeno, sino también a la ausencia de etileno.

Tomates longa vida: O que são, como foram desenvolvidos?

ABSTRACT Long shelf life tomatoes: what are and how they weredeveloped. The production of fresh market tomatoes in Brazil experiencedgreat technological transformations, during the last decade. Amongthem, the use of F1 hybrid cultivars which produce fruits withextended shelf life (long shelf life cultivars) was, without one ofdoubt the most important. The expression ‘long shelf life tomatoes’has been used in Brazil to describe the characteristics of extendedpost harvest life of fruits produced by some specific tomato cultivars(long shelf life cultivars). Long shelf life tomato cultivars can beobtained by the selection of favorable alleles for an improved pericarpfirmness, by the utilization of ripening mutants ( rin , nor and alc )and by modern molecular biology techniques. The first ones areknown as structural long shelf life cultivars, the second as rin , nor or alc long shelf life cultivars and the third as transgenic long shelflife cultivars. Long shelf life tomato cultivars were first introducedcommercially in Brazil by Agroflora in 1988 (structural long shelflife cultivars) and in 1992 (

534 1-Methylcyclopropene Extends Shelf Life of Tomato at All Stages of Maturity

The effects of 1-MCP on ripening and shelf life in fruit of five classes of maturity (1, mature green; 2, turning; 3, half-ripe; 4, ripe; and 5, over-ripe) of `Plum' tomato (Lycopersicon × esculentum, Mill) at 22 °C were evaluated. 1-Methylcylopropene (1-MCP) reduced the rate of red color development in fruit of all maturity classes. However, the effect was more discernable in fruit with higher hue angle value. Single application of 1-MCP delayed the color development by 10 days. While a second application of 1-MCP at day 10 delayed color development by another 10 days for mature green tomatoes, it did not influence the color change in all other classes of maturity. The effects of 1-MCP on firmness loss were similar to color development. Compared to the control, 1-MCP reduced the ripening-related rate of respiration by approximately 40%. Contrary to this, ethylene production was not affected by 1-MCP application. Potential exists to use 1-MCP in tomato to reduce ethylene-associated changes in texture and color.

Quality and Shelf Life of Tomatoes Improved by Intermittent Warming

Breaker tomatoes of the long life cultivar ‘Daniela F-1’ Hazera (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) treated with 1 g/L iprodione, were stored at 6, 9 and 12 °C, and 90–95% RH for 14 and 21 d. Fruit stored at 6 and 9 °C was exposed to intermittent warming at 20 °C for one day, at 7-d intervals. Fruit was then allowed to ripen for a period of 3 d at 20 °C and 75–80% RH. In comparison to continuous storage at 6 or 9 °C, intermittent warming during two or three cycles of 6 d at 6 or 9 °C and 1 d at 20 °C, enhanced the surface colour and encouraged ripening. At the end of cold storage and after post-storage ripening, there was no significant change in the soluble solids content. A slight reduction in titratable acidity was induced by intermittent warming. After ripening, the best results were obtained by intermittent warming during three cycles of 6 d at 9 °C and 1 d at 20 °C. Continuous storage at 12 °C also yielded good results. Both treatments resulted in fruits of acceptable quality and shelf life for commercial purposes. Similar results have already been reported for conventional tomato hybrid plants, indicating that the physiological behaviour of both cultivars were similar under similar intermittent storage temperatures.

The organizational structure of the North American fresh tomato market: Implications for seasonal trade disputes

Primary data collected from grower-shippers of fresh tomatoes in California, Florida, and Mexico reveal considerable heterogeneity among firms. Many firms which are extending their shipping seasons outside traditional seasons must have access to land in diverse geographic areas through ownership and contracts. Besides attempting to be low-cost producers, some firms compete by differentiating their products. The extended shelf life tomato from Mexico is one such differentiated product which has garnered higher FOB prices relative to Florida tomatoes. The implications of heterogeneous firms for trade disputes have not been considered in recent deliberations concerning Florida- and Mexico-based tomato growers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Edwin Hubble: Mariner of the nebulae

The applications of edible coatings stemmed exclusively from alginate in food packaging are restricted due to their inherent deficient antimicrobial, barrier, and UV-barrier properties. In this work, we aimed to design smart alginate-based coatings for active food packaging through the addition of both aloe vera (AV) and garlic oil (GO). The interactions between the film components were verified by FTIR and XRD. Thermal and mechanical properties were improved by the presence of AV and GO. The presence of AV and GO did not significantly influence the transparency of alginate films. The films exhibited a significant UV-shielding to all UV regions. Water vapor permeability was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced either through the incorporation of AV or GO. The antimicrobial properties of the prepared films were considerably improved by the presence of AV and GO. The shelf-life of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was extended when coated with the alginate film incorporated with AV and GO. Owing to the outstanding UV-shielding, mechanical, thermal, and antimicrobial properties, the alginate/AV/GO active coatings could potentially be implemented in the food packaging industry.

Fresh Market and Long Shelf Life Tomato Response to Rowcover Treatments in a Dry Temperate Climate

Floating rowcover (R), Dupont's “Lawn and Garden Blanket”, with 75% to 80% light transmittance, was applied on black plastic mulch (M) and over transplanted seedlings of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Peto Seed's fresh market (F) `Al Wadi' and long shelf-life (L) `PSX 19392' were transplanted on 11 Apr. 1995 to drip-irrigated beds that were covered with M or not covered (C). The R was removed 4 (R1) or 5 (R2) weeks after its application. The climate is temperate with ≈200 days frost-free and 400 mm rainfall. Each cultivar was grown in a field with the treatments randomized in a complete block with four replications. Fruit harvest was done weekly for 6 weeks. Yield of the first 2 weeks was considered indicative of earliness. Yield earliness was enhanced by the shorter period treatment (R1) with the L cultivar showing more response to R1 (P &lt; 0.05) than the F cultivar. Early average fruit weight was comparable among all treatments (P &gt; 0.05) in both cultivars, but total average fruit weight was increased by R1 in L cultivar. (P&lt;0.05). Total yield was comparable among the treatments in F cultivar (P &gt; 0.05) and was lowest under M treatment in the L cultivar (P &lt; 0.05). We recommend using R for shorter periods on tomato grown in a dry temperate climate, where clear skies can cause excess heat build up under rowcovers during day time.

Modified atmosphere packaging to extend the shelf life of tomatoes

An experimental retail packaging system was used to compare the atmospheric com‐position and relative humidity which developed within packs sealed with a range of plastic films with different permeability properties, and to study the effects of these conditions on the rate of ripening (as indicated by colour change) and sensory quality of tomatoes. In packs sealed with several polyvinylchloride (PVC) films or with K‐resin (a butadiene‐styrene copolymer), an atmosphere containing 3–9% CO2+3−9% 02 developed within circa 3–4 days at 10 or 12.5°C. Ripening of part ripe fruit was retarded, but continued normally after the packs were perforated, with no obvious adverse effects on the smell, flavour or texture of the fruit. In packs sealed with less permeable films (e.g. cellulose acetate), the internal atmosphere equilibrated to 10–18% CO2+ &lt; 2% O2, resulting in complete inhibition of ripening, a high incidence of rotting and tainting of the fruit. Very high (98% or above) relative humidity within sealed packs also encouraged fungal spoilage. The possible commercial applications and benefits of this type of modified atmosphere (MA) packaging are discussed.

Effect of postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of tomato

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of chlorine, packaging and storage conditions on quality and shelf life of tomato. Tomato treated with chlorine; packed in perforated (0.25%) polyethylene bag and kept at ambient (Temperature 20-25°C &amp; relative humidity 70-90%) condition resulted in substantial reduction in losses caused by decay and weight loss. This treatment combination also considerably delayed compositional changes in TSS, total sugar, reducing sugar, vitamin-C, B-carotene, etc. Under this condition, shelf life of tomato had extended upto 17 days as compared to non-treated and kept in ambient condition without packaging or packed in gunny bag for 7 days only. Key Words: Postharvest treatments, shelf-life, quality of tomato. doi: 10.3329/bjar.v33i4.2291 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 33(4) : 579-585, December 2008