Shelf Life Of Tomatoes Research Articles

English

Preharvest factors influence postharvest quality of tomatoes. Whereas water stress improves fruit total soluble solids; and polyethylene is used for packaging of fresh horticultural produce, little is known about their combined effects on quality and shelf life of tomatoes. The objective of this study was to investigate the independent and interactive effects of deficit irrigation and packaging on postharvest quality and shelf life of tomatoes. The experiment was a split plot arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Packaging was the main treatment and water levels the sub treatments. Water treatments were 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of pot capacity (PC). Packaging treatments were perforated, non-perforated and non-packaged (control). Fruits harvested at breaker stage were stored at 21±2oC. Quality parameters assessed were fruit weight loss, colour change, firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and shelf life. Polyethylene bags commonly used in the market (22 x 6.37 cm of size; 0.02 mm of thickness) were used as packaging material. At 16 days storage, unpackaged fruit had lost 34.23% of initial weight compared to 9.06% in perforated and 4.43% in non-perforated packaging. At 8 days of storage, 20% PC fruits were firmer than 80% PC fruits. At 10 days storage, 20% PC fruits were firmer compared to those from 40 and 80% PC. Total Soluble Solids (TSS) increased with decrease in moisture level. At 10 DAH, the lowest TSS was recorded in fruits subjected to 100% PC and highest in 40% PC. Deficit Irrigation effectively regulates tomato fruit quality; and combining it with packaging can enhance shelf life of tomato fruits. Key words: Water stress, packaging, fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS).

Genetic variation of an Italian long shelf-life tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) collection by using SSR and morphological fruit traits

The recovery of ancient germplasm in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) has become necessary to limit the wide genetic erosion caused by the employment of modern cultivars. Among germplasm collections, long shelf-life landraces could represent an important source of biodiversity. The present study provides a first set of molecular and phenotypic data on long shelf-life (so called “da serbo” in southern Italy) tomato collection, mainly originated from Sicily together with some landraces from Campania and Apulia. The analysis of fruit traits showed a low intra-varietal variation, while exhibiting a quite higher inter-varietal variability. Overall, the cultivars have been classified in six fruit shape classes of which flattened and slightly flattened included the 54.76 % of the collection. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed a large cluster in which almost all landraces from Sicily were included. The microsatellite (SSR) analysis confirmed a low intra-varietal variation, and the very low heterozygosity (Ho) revealed a high degree of homozygosity in these landraces. In accordance with limited morphological variability, the values of microsatellite polymorphism (PIC) showed a low genetic variability among these long shelf-life tomato cultivars. Cluster analysis based on 10 polymorphic SSR was not able to distinguish landraces for their different origin, while allowed to classify similar genotypes in four groups. Three groups showed a limited genetic distance while in a fourth largest and genetic variable cluster was included genotypes more selectable for traits of agronomic interest. Overall, the phenotypic and genetic variation allowed us to classify a collection of Sicilian long shelf-life tomato landraces.

A new zero energy cool chamber with a solar-driven adsorption refrigerator

A new zero energy cool chamber (ZECC) consisting of two cooling systems, a solar-driven adsorption refrigerator and an evaporative cooling system, was developed and then evaluated as low-cost and eco-friendly cooling storage for storing fruit with moderate respiration rates. The solar-driven adsorption refrigerator, consisting of a solar collector containing activated carbon as an adsorbent, a condenser and an evaporator, cools water based by evaporating methanol and adsorbing it on activated carbon, and then makes ice. The methanol adsorbed on the activated carbon is desorbed by applying solar heat. The ice is then used to cool the storage space, which can be done for a long time without the need for electricity. The evaporative cooling system also cools the storage space by evaporating water from the wet walls containing wet filler. The combined use of two cooling systems reduced the average inside temperature of the new ZECC to 12.07 °C compared with an average outside temperature of 31.5 °C and extended the shelf life of tomatoes from 7 to 23 days. These results suggest that the new ZECC proposed here is low-cost and energy-saving and is useful for storing fruit and vegetables in areas where electricity is unavailable.

Gamma radiation protects fruit quality in tomato by inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ethylene

Experiments were conducted to examine the individual and combined effect of two different electromagnetic energies, i.e., gamma ray viz 0.1, 0.5 and 1 kGy and static magnetic field (50 mT for 1 h) and their combination (0.5 kGy + 50 mT) on the shelf life of tomato and evaluates the biochemical attributes that influence the fruit ripening and fruit quality. Magnetic field application either alone or in combination with gamma irradiation was not effective in delaying the ripening process. Gamma ray exposed fruits at 0.5 and 1 kGy showed an extended shelf life due to delayed fruit ripening and reduced lycopene synthesis and ethylene production. Efficient ROS scavenging ability and consequent reduction in oxidative damage in the irradiated treatment may cause favorable biochemical changes to facilitate delayed ripening of the tomato fruits.

Postharvest Quality of Refrigerated Tomato Fruit (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Zinac) at Two Maturity Stages Following Heat Treatment

This study evaluated the effect of water heat treatment (WHT, immersion in a water bath at 40C – 30 min) application in alternative to the conventional decontamination treatment of chlorinated water (150 ppm at 5C, pH 6.5 during 2 min) on tomato (cv. Zinac) at two maturity stages (turning and pink). Physiochemical attributes, enzymatic activities and microbial load were evaluated after treatments and during 14 days of storage at 10C. The WHT applied was very effective on microbial reduction and delayed physiochemical changes of tomato, namely firmness loss and red color development during storage period, especially at turning maturity stage. Based on the firmness parameter, shelf-life of control and WHT samples were determined. Our results provide strong evidence that postharvest WHT (40C – 30 min) for tomato fruits at turning maturity stage guarantees the overall quality at 10C twice as long of fruits washed with chlorinated water. Practical Applications Tomato is a popular fruit due to its high nutritional value and culinary versatility. However, tomato shelf-life is limited, especially if commercialized in an advanced maturity stage. Water heat treatment (WHT) is a promised postharvest processing to extend quality of fresh crop. WHT (40C – 30 min) applied to whole tomato (cv. “Zinac”) was found to be effective for microbial reduction and guarantees its overall quality at 10C for a double period, especially in early maturity stages, compared with conventional treatments, without presenting the chemical risks associated to by-products of chlorinated water.

Development and evaluation of low cost evaporative cooling systems to minimise postharvest losses of tomatoes (Roma vf) around Woreta, Ethiopia

Low cost evaporative cooling systems were developed and investigated for their cooling efficiency to improve the shelf life of tomatoes. Average cooling efficiencies of bamboo jute and pot in pot coolers before being loaded with tomatoes were 82% and 79% and after being loaded were 67.6% and 61.6%, respectively. Physiological weight losses were 1.03%, 1.32% and 1.42% for bamboo jute, pot in pot coolers and ambient storage, respectively. The sensory results revealed that the shelf life of tomatoes were 5, 19 and 21 days for ambient, pot in pot and bamboo jute coolers, respectively. Storage type has significant difference on cooling efficiency but not on physiological weight loss, physical damage, freshness and rot incidence at p < 0.05. Thus, both evaporative coolers were found to be energy efficient, environmentally sound and can be used in areas where there is no electricity to improve the shelf life of tomatoes.

Non-Contact Ultrasonic Based Stiffness Evaluation System for Tomatoes during Shelf-Life Storage

This paper addresses a use of the non-contact ultrasonic based stiffness or firmness measurement technique for tomatoes quality judgment. Here, both the change in received acoustic signal attenuation and its propagation delay due to variation in stiffness of tomatoes are recorded over a time period from fresh to full ripen cycle of tomato. The experimental setup consist of ultrasonic transducer (400EP14D) have center frequency 40 KHz with 1350 typical beam angle, interface circuit to connect with ARM9 processor using the Linux OS with qtopia based GUI for data acquisition and further analysis purpose. The data obtained by the developed system is also transferred to PC using Zigbee wireless network for further processing and training using various pattern recognitions techniques under the developed system software package. A second order nonlinear relationship between the attenuation, propagation delay was observed until the end of shelf life of tomatoes under test. The ARM9 based developed system helps both in linearization and auto calibration of the measured data well as has advantage of multiple sensor connectivity for different analysis like temperature and humidity compensation. The results obtained are also validated using standard Alpha-Mos system consists of 12 gas sensors using odor sensing technique. Thus the developed noncontact ultrasonic based system is cost effective, low power and compact system to differentiate between quality (mature and immature) of tomatoes as well as prediction of different factors like chilling injury, TSWV (tomato spotted wilt virus), sunscald and it can be further applied to other types of fruits where stiffness change is major factor for quality of the fruit.

Determining the effectiveness of Candida guilliermondii in the biological control of Rhizopus stolonifer in postharvest tomatoes

Post-harvest losses in tomato crops can be accredited to a number of causes, which include biological causes that produce physiological deterioration; infection caused by diseases and pests that cause rotting. In this study, we assayed, in vitro and in vivo, the yeast Candida guilliermondii to determine its effectiveness as a biocontrol to reduce the rotting produced by Rhizopus stolonifer on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum). The antagonistic effect was tested using a yeast biomass suspension; gas chromatography and a mass selective detector were used to identify its metabolites. According to the in vitro test, the only phase with an antagonistic response against Rhizopus stolonifer was the unfiltered water phase. In the in vivo tests, the biomass of Candida guilliermondii presented the highest percentage of protection of the tomato (87 %) compared with the unfiltered aqueous phase and the unconcentrated organic phase, which reached only 77 and 80 % respectively. These results are essential to avoid economic losses caused by fungi and to increase the shelf life of tomatoes improving the distribution of the product and preventing postharvest losses in this time of food crises, especially in developing countries.

Enhancement of shelf life of tomatoes by postharvest herbal treatment, during storage under ambient conditions

Fruits and vegetables are the most perishable agricultural commodities, and the postharvest loss of these is tremendous. The objective of this study is to reduce postharvest losses of perishables with a very simple approach. The study was conducted to find out the effect of postharvest herbal treatment on shelf life of tomatoes under ambient conditions. Three different herbal formulations of Curcuma aromatica (A), Glycyrrhiza glabra (B) and Garcinia indica (C) each at concentration of 1% w/v were studied. The tomatoes stored were evaluated on 7th and 14th day for physicochemical parameters (viz. Vitamin C, Titrable acidity, pH and total soluble solids) and percent spoilage. It was observed that the formulation of G. indica was found to be most effective. Tomatoes treated with formulation of G. indica were rated for organoleptic evaluation and got very good ratings. This study has revealed the possibility of utilisation of herbal formulations to reduce postharvest losses of tomatoes.

Accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato skin extends shelf life

Shelf life is one of the most important traits for the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) industry. Two key factors, post-harvest over-ripening and susceptibility to post-harvest pathogen infection, determine tomato shelf life. Anthocyanins accumulate in the skin of Aft/Aft atv/atv tomatoes, the result of introgressing alleles affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit from two wild relatives of tomato, which results in extended fruit shelf life. Compared with ordinary, anthocyanin-less tomatoes, the fruits of Aft/Aft atv/atv keep longer during storage and are less susceptible to Botrytis cinerea, a major tomato pathogen, post-harvest. Using genetically modified tomatoes over-producing anthocyanins, we confirmed that skin-specific accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato is sufficient to reduce the susceptibility of fruit to Botrytis cinerea. Our data indicate that accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato fruit, achieved either by traditional breeding or genetic engineering can be an effective way to extend tomato shelf life.

Use of soy protein based 1-methylcyclopropene-releasing pads to extend the shelf life of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit

In the last years great interest has been devoted to the development of preservation treatments for packed foods. In this work, we developed and tested soy protein biodegradable films releasing the inhibitor of ethylene action 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Soy protein pads were prepared by casting from formulations containing different glycerol concentrations (20, 40 or 60% on protein basis) and pHs (2.0, 7.0 or 10.0). Their tensile strength, water content and ability to delay tomato ripening were determined. The best performing films (pH 7.0; 20% glycerol) were selected to further characterize the influence of the 1-MCP-releasing pads on tomato texture, color, sugars, acids, antioxidants and decay under different storage regimes. Results showed that soy protein 1-MCP-releasing pads delayed tomato softening and pectin solubilization, reduced decay and lycopene accumulation and could be useful for postharvest “in package” treatments. Controlling ethylene action is crucial to prevent over-ripening. In the last years the inhibitor of ethylene action 1-MCP was launched and since then its use in fruits and vegetables has rapidly expanded. We have developed and evaluated soybean protein pads intended to be used as 1-MCP releasers. When incorporated into tomato fruit packages, the pads delayed ripening without causing negative quality changes. Soy protein based releasers could be useful to perform postharvest treatment during transit or distribution.

Anthocyanins Double the Shelf Life of Tomatoes by Delaying Overripening and Reducing Susceptibility to Gray Mold

SummaryShelf life is an important quality trait for many fruit, including tomatoes. We report that enrichment of anthocyanin, a natural pigment, in tomatoes can significantly extend shelf life. Processes late in ripening are suppressed by anthocyanin accumulation, and susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea, one of the most important postharvest pathogens, is reduced in purple tomato fruit. We show that reduced susceptibility to B. cinerea is dependent specifically on the accumulation of anthocyanins, which alter the spreading of the ROS burst during infection. The increased antioxidant capacity of purple fruit likely slows the processes of overripening. Enhancing the levels of natural antioxidants in tomato provides a novel strategy for extending shelf life by genetic engineering or conventional breeding.

Changes in Antioxidant Content, Rehydration Ratio and Browning Index during Storage of Edible Surface Coated and Dehydrated Tomato Slices

Changes in antioxidants, rehydration ratio and browning index of tomato slices (raw and blanched) coated with gum arabic of different concentrations (1, 5 and 10%) and dried by sun (40 ± 1C) or air (80C) were monitored during storage (6 months) at 24 ± 1C. Sun- and air-drying of raw and blanched slices significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the total phenolics, flavonoids and lycopene contents but significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased ascorbic acid. Storage of dried coated raw and blanched slices increased total phenolics compared to uncoated. Flavonoids, ascorbic acid, lycopene and rehydration ratio were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased. However, coating of raw and blanched slices reduced the level of losses in antioxidants, color and rehydration ratio during drying and storage. As the concentration of gum arabic increased, the rate of reduction in antioxidants, color and rehydration ratio decreased, and there was a remarkable increase in some antioxidants during storage. Practical Applications Limited shelf life and loss in quality are major problems in marketing of fresh tomatoes. An ideal preservation method should increase the shelf life of tomatoes without causing notable loss of quality. Dehydration of tomato slices had a great impact on the constituents of the slices, but application of surface edible coating prior to dehydration reduced losses in fruit composition and kept the quality attributes of the final product.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) F2 population segregation for improving shelf life

Breeding for better quality fruits is a major focus for tomatoes, which are continuously subjected to post-harvest losses. Several methods have been used to improve the fruit shelf life of tomatoes, including the use of ripening gene mutants of Solanum lycopersicum. We developed extended shelf-life tomato hybrids with better quality fruits using ripening mutants. Nine tomato crosses were developed using 3 fruit ripening gene mutants of S. lycopersicum [alcobaca (alc), non-ripening, and ripening inhibitor] and 3 agronomically superior Indian cultivars ('Sankranti', 'Vaibhav', and 'Pusaruby') with short shelf life. The hybrid progenies developed from alc x 'Vaibhav' had the highest extended shelf life (up to 40 days) compared with that of other varieties and hybrids. Further, the F(2) progenies of alc x 'Vaibhav' were evaluated for fruit quality traits and yield parameters. A wide range of genetic variability was observed in shelf life (5-106 days) and fruit firmness (0.55-10.65 lbs/cm(2)). The potential polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers underlying shelf life traits were identified in an F(2) mapping population. The marker association with fruit quality traits and yield was confirmed with single-marker analysis and composite interval mapping. The genetic parameters analyzed in the parents and F(1) and F(2) populations indicated that the cross between the cultivar 'Vaibhav' and ripening gene mutant alc yielded fruit with long shelf life and good quality.

Functional characterization of a tomato COBRA-likegene functioning in fruit development and ripening

BackgroundExtensive studies have demonstrated that the COBRA gene is critical for biosynthesis of cell wall constituents comprising structural tissues of roots, stalks, leaves and other vegetative organs, however, its role in fruit development and ripening remains largely unknown.ResultsWe identified a tomato gene (SlCOBRA-like) homologous to Arabidopsis COBRA, and determined its role in fleshy fruit biology. The SlCOBRA-like gene is highly expressed in vegetative organs and in early fruit development, but its expression in fruit declines dramatically during ripening stages, implying a primary role in early fruit development. Fruit-specific suppression of SlCOBRA-like resulted in impaired cell wall integrity and up-regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in cell wall degradation during early fruit development. In contrast, fruit-specific overexpression of SlCOBRA-like resulted in increased wall thickness of fruit epidermal cells, more collenchymatous cells beneath the epidermis, elevated levels of cellulose and reduced pectin solubilization in the pericarp cells of red ripe fruits. Moreover, transgenic tomato fruits overexpressing SlCOBRA-like exhibited desirable early development phenotypes including enhanced firmness and a prolonged shelf life.ConclusionsOur results suggest that SlCOBRA-like plays an important role in fruit cell wall architecture and provides a potential genetic tool for extending the shelf life of tomato and potentially additional fruits.

Evaluación técnica y económica del pepino y el pimentón como alternativas al tomate bajo invernadero

n order to find alternatives to greenhouse tomato production, a technical and economic evaluation of five cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) hybrids and thirteen sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids was carried out using semi-commercial crops. The economic evaluation compared five projects: long shelf-life tomato, regular and European cucumber, and red and gourmet sweet pepper, using three different commercial scenarios. The first two considered the financial results when price and productivity variations (from -50 up to 50% with respect to the reference value) were applied. The third one analyzed price paid variations as a function of the customer. For each crop, the highest production came from the regular cucumber Caman, the European cucumber Azabache and the gourmet sweet pepper Taranto with 8.0, 8.5 and 7.9 kg m-2, respectively. The red sweet pepper hybrids showed significant differences, with AF6529 displaying the highest productivity with 4.8 kg m-2. The economic evaluation indicated that the gourmet sweet pepper, long shelflife tomato and European cucumber are feasible projects, with the gourmet sweet pepper project having the highest returns. The initial investment of COP $187.552.083 is recovered in two years, obtaining the desired profitability while generating a surplus of COP $60.909.707. It is necessary to increase the productivity of the regular cucumber and the red sweet pepper in order to make them more competitive in wholesale markets; however, if the quality of the products is improved while offering constant volumes, it is possible to gain access to more profitable markets.

Postharvest shelf life of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) mutanats (nor and rin) and their hybrids

Two tomato lines with normal maturation (NR-1 and NR-2) have been crossed with two mutant lines (NR-10 nor and NR-12 rin) with delayed maturation (shelf life). Determination of mutant genes has been done by ?2 test on 100 fruits from F2 generation. Fruits have been picked 65 days from antesis and kept for 60 days, when six evaluations have been done. Data have been collected every 10 days on parental lines and progeny F1 and F2 generation. Variance testing has been done on the basis of one- and two-factorial analysis and groups compared by contrasts. Fruits have been preserved in controlled conditions (in dark at 5?C). Tomato genotypes with nor or rin gene had desirable traits (delayed ripening, long shelf life and firm fruits) for modern selection, so they should be included in programmes aiming to create commercial F1 hybrids.

Active Packaging of Cardboard to Extend the Shelf Life of Tomatoes

In order to extend the shelf life of fresh tomatoes using biodegradable materials, an active microcorrugated cardboard tray package was tested for use with fresh Cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme). Active packaging characteristics were achieved by coating the interior surface of the cardboard tray with polylactic acid (PLA; 3% w/v) and, after filling with tomatoes, the tray was wrapped with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film of 70 or 20 μm thickness and hermetically heat sealed. Uncoated trays were used as control. The trays of tomatoes were stored at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 55 ± 2% relative humidity, for 30 days, and the ethylene concentration in the package atmosphere was measured periodically as an indicator of ripeness. The following fruit quality parameters were also studied: weight loss, surface colour, microbial count, firmness, soluble solids and pH. It was demonstrated that the capacity of PLA to adsorb ethylene and water vapour and the thickness of the LDPE film were decisive for controlling the ethylene concentration of the package atmosphere and for preventing condensation of water vapour on the fruit and film. The active packaging configuration and storage conditions used preserved fruit quality for a month, thus extending the useful life of the tomatoes and saving refrigeration costs.

Finding a Way to Extend Tomato Shelf-Life

Finding a Way to Extend Tomato Shelf-Life

Inheritance of shelf life and other quality traits of tomato fruit estimated from F1’s, F2’s and backcross generations derived from standard cultivar, nor homozygote and wild cherry tomato

A tomato cultivar with high quality fruit and a long shelf life is a main goal in tomato breeding and it would be achieved using wild germplasm. The objective of this work was to explore the inheritance for fruit quality traits, especially fruit shelf life, in three tomato crosses using a standard Argentinean cultivar (Ca, cv ‘Caimanta’), a ripening mutant (nor, homozygous for the nor gene) of Solanum lycopersicum, and a wild cherry type (Ce, LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The wild parent had a shorter fruit shelf life than the mutant genotype but higher than Ca. When the Ce genotype was analyzed in hybrid combination, the F1 (Ca×Ce) was similar to the wild genotype for shelf life whereas the F1 (nor × Ce) had a longer shelf life. Both F1 crosses and backcrosses to the cherry type genotype had significantly lower fruit weight than the cultivated genotypes but higher than the cherry type parent. In the F2 analysis, it was found that the inheritance underlying quality traits is complex since non allelic interactions were detected. A significant additive genetic variance was found for fruit shelf life as well as for other fruit quality traits in each cross. The genetic parameters analyzed by mean values and variances in parental, F1 and F2 and backcross generations indicated that the cross between the normal ripening cultivar and LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme offers the best possibility to obtain long shelf life tomato genotypes with good fruit quality.