Ripe Tomato Research Articles

Postharvest physicochemical and nutritional properties of Tomato fruit at different maturity stages affected by physical impact

Tomatoes are a globally significant vegetable valued for their nutritional benefits and culinary versatility. However, they are prone to mechanical damage, such as dropping and bruising, during harvesting and handling, which can impair their physicochemical and nutritional properties, reduce shelf life and marketability. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dropping and bruising on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of tomatoes. Vanessa F1 Hybrid tomatoes at two maturity stages, Breaker (II) and Red ripe (VI) were dropped from a height of 90 cm and stored at various temperatures for 15 days. We assessed changes in firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, respiration rate, vitamin C, and mineral contents (K and Ca) over the storage period. Dropped tomatoes exhibited significantly increased internal bruising and accelerated deterioration over time, with Red ripe tomatoes being more affected. Firmness, TSS, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content significantly decreased, while respiration rates and mineral content also reduced due to dropping. Breaker stage tomatoes showed better retention of firmness and nutrient content compared to Red ripe stage tomatoes, particularly when stored at 5 °C. Mechanical damage from dropping significantly degrades the quality of tomatoes, affecting their physical and chemical properties. The study highlights the importance of minimizing mechanical injuries to maintain tomato quality and extend shelf life. This knowledge can aid in developing improved postharvest handling practices to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the tomato industry.

Determination of red colour and lycopene development of <em>Platinum, Padma</em> and <em>Abhiman</em> varieties of tomatoes stored at different temperatures and preparation of tomato puree with watermelon pulp

Lycopene is responsible for red colour development in tomatoes. Since locally grown tomatoes have less lycopene content, it negatively affects the production of tomato sauce at required quality. The aim of this study was to determine the best post-harvest practices to improve the lycopene content in locally grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) varieties namely, Platinum, Abhiman, and Padma. They were harvested at the colour break stage and stored at room temperature (32 °C – 34 °C) and cold room temperature (22 °C) for 14 days. Thereafter, they were subjected to analysis, content and colour development (a*) and the obtained values were compared. Lycopene was extracted using a mixture of hexane, ethanol and acetone (2:1:1 ratio) and lycopene analyzed spectrophotometrically. Watermelon is rich in lycopene and pulp extracted from it was incorporated with tomato purees at different ratios to improve the red colour of tomato purees. Results revealed that the average lycopene content of ripe tomatoes at the harvesting stage ranged from 8.34 ± 1.91 to 9.32 ± 2.21 mg/100 g fresh weights. Tomatoes stored at cold room temperatures contained significantly higher amounts of lycopene (37.05 ± 2.50 to 43.03 ± 1.52 mg/ 100 g fresh weight) compared to that of tomatoes stored at room temperatures (16.50 ± 3.10 to 19.04 ± 2.54 mg/100 g fresh weight). Results revealed that the incorporation of watermelon pulp did not contribute to elevating the colour of tomato puree, even at different ratios.

Ripe Tomato Detection Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv9.

Recognizing ripe tomatoes is a crucial aspect of tomato picking. To ensure the accuracy of inspection results, You Only Look Once version 9 (YOLOv9) has been explored as a fruit detection algorithm. To tackle the challenge of identifying tomatoes and the low accuracy of small object detection in complex environments, we propose a ripe tomato recognition algorithm based on an enhanced YOLOv9-C model. After collecting tomato data, we used Mosaic for data augmentation, which improved model robustness and enriched experimental data. Improvements were made to the feature extraction and down-sampling modules, integrating HGBlock and SPD-ADown modules into the YOLOv9 model. These measures resulted in high detection performance with precision and recall rates of 97.2% and 92.3% in horizontal and vertical experimental comparisons, respectively. The module-integrated model improved accuracy and recall by 1.3% and 1.1%, respectively, and also reduced inference time by 1 ms compared to the original model. The inference time of this model was 14.7 ms, which is 16 ms better than the RetinaNet model. This model was tested accurately with mAP@0.5 (%) up to 98%, which is 9.6% higher than RetinaNet. Its increased speed and accuracy make it more suitable for practical applications. Overall, this model provides a reliable technique for recognizing ripe tomatoes during the picking process.

A Tomato Sorting Automation Prototype Based on Color

Abstract—The process of sorting tomatoes can be done using visual methods by paying attention to color. The purpose of this research is to improve the process of sorting tomatoes based on color in distinguishing ripe tomatoes and immature tomatoes. Streamline the time of sorting tomato fruit in order to avoid losses due to spoilage. This research method is with a sample of tomato fruit taken RGB value through TCS 3200 color sensor according to the level of maturity. After the RGB value is obtained, it will be processed into the Arduino Uno to obtain maturity information through the rules that have been made and sorted using a servo motor. The results of this study indicate that a good condition for detecting tomato fruit is with a closer distance to the fruit with a dark background. This is because there is no excess light reflection so that the TCS sensor can take RGB values well and reduce the occurrence of misreading of ripeness information in the sorting process. Keywords— Tomato, Sensor TCS 3200, Arduino uno, Motor Servo.

Pengaruh Penambahan Ubi Jalar Kuning (Ipomoea Batatas L.) dan Bunga Rosella (Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.) Terhadap Karakteristik Fisikokimia dan Organoleptik Saus Tomat

Abstract. Tomato sauce is a product produced from a mixture of tomato puree or tomato paste or tomato solids obtained from ripe tomatoes, which is processed with spices, with or without the addition of other food ingredients and permitted food additives. The addition of yellow sweet potato was chosen as a natural thickener and rosella flowers to replace the role of synthetic dyes in tomato sauce. The research design used in this study was a randomized factorial block design consisting of 2 factors, namely the addition of yellow sweet potato (0%,15% and 30%) and the addition of rosella flowers (0%, 5% and 10%). Parameters tested are water content, total dissolved solids, pH, total carotene, antioxidant activity, color intensity and organoleptic. The results showed that there was an interaction between the addition of yellow sweet potato and rosella flower on water content, total dissolved solids, pH, antioxidant activity. The addition of yellow sweet potato affected the water content, total dissolved solids, pH, total carotene, antioxidant activity, brightness (L) and redness (a+). The addition of rosella flowers affected the water content, total dissolved solids, pH, total carotene, antioxidant activity and brightness (L). The best treatment was A2B1 with a value of water content (63.32%), total dissolved solids (19.33°Brix), pH (3.89), total carotene (22.32µg), antioxidant activity (76.71%), color intensity (L 39.63; a* 15.6; b* 16.2); aroma 4.24 (rather delicious), color 4.12 (rather bright), taste 4.56 (delicious), texture 4.88 (thick), preference 4.36 (rather like).

Treatment of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Fruits with Powders and Ashes from Tridax Procumbens and Chromolaena Odorata for Shelf-Life Extension

Ripe and wholesome tomato fruits of Padma 108 F1 and Platinum 701 F1 were stored in powders and ashes of Tridax procumbens and Chromolaena odorata by complete submergence and surface coating treatments in a completely randomised set-up. Fruits were kept in corrugated cardboard boxes at 26.5 0C and RH 83 %. Disease incidence was assessed every 5 days in storage. The days taken for 50 % of the tomato fruits to retain marketable qualities were determined. All tomato fruits treated with the plant materials showed significantly lower disease incidences (p ≤ 0.05) than the untreated fruits. Submerging Padma fruits in ash of C. odorata produced a shelf-life of 106 days while for Platinum fruits, submerging in powder of T. procumbens produced the longest shelf-life of 155 days. Untreated fruits of Padma and Platinum had shelf lives of 31 days and 53 days respectively. Padma fruits completely submerged in the powders of T. procumbens, C. odorata and surface coated with the powder of C. odorata retained 50 % marketability at Day 61, and 50 % of Platinum tomatoes submerged in the powder of C. odorata remained marketable at Day 116. The preservative effects of the powders and ashes of the two botanicals in tomato fruits could probably be accounted for by a combination of moisture-absorbent properties, restraining airflow, high pH and the presence of phytochemicals.

Tomato MADS-RIN regulates GAME5 expression to promote non-bitter glycoalkaloid biosynthesis in fruit.

A well-known defense-associated steroidal glycoalkaloid (SGA) metabolic shift eliminates the bitterness and toxicity of ripe tomato fruits. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of MADS-RIN (RIN) and its cofactors on SGA metabolism in tomato fruits. Using a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing system, we mutated RIN and two cofactor genes (FUL1 and FUL2). The observed changes to fruit color and size in the mutants reflected the overlapping and distinct effects of RIN, FUL1, and FUL2 on fruit ripening. According to a UPLC-MS/MS analysis, the RIN and cofactor mutants had decreased levels of the relatively non-toxic metabolite esculeoside A, but they accumulated toxic SGA pathway intermediates, suggesting RIN and its cofactors are directly involved in esculeoside A biosynthesis. Transcriptome and qPCR analyses detected the downregulated expression of GAME5, which encodes a key enzyme mediating esculeoside A biosynthesis. ChIP-seq and ChIP-qPCR analyses confirmed GAME5 is targeted by RIN. RIN was observed to activate GAME5 transcription by binding to two non-canonical CArG-boxes in the GAME5 promoter. Additionally, RIN promotes SGA metabolism independently of ethylene. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism governing tomato fruit ripening and SGA biosynthesis. Furthermore, they may be useful for improving tomato fruit quality and safety.

The dynamic N1-methyladenosine RNA methylation provides insights into the tomato fruit ripening.

N1-methyladenosine (m1A) methylation is an essential mechanism of gene regulation known to impact several biological processes in living organisms. However, little is known about the abundance, distribution, and functional significance of mRNA m1A modification during fruit ripening of tomato the main model species for fleshy fruits. Our study shows that m1A modifications are prevalent in tomato mRNA and are detected in lncRNA and circRNA. The distribution of m1A peaks in mRNA segments indicates that m1A is mainly enriched at the start codon and CDS regions. Assessing changes in global RNA methylation during fruit ripening in wild-type tomatoes and in the ripening-impaired Nr mutant affected in the ethylene receptor gene (SlETR3) revealed a decrease in the overall methylation levels from mature green (MG) stage to 6 days postbreaker (Br + 6). Nr mutant fruits show significantly lower methylation levels than Ailsa Craig (AC) fruits. Notably, differences in m1A methylation are well correlated to the expression levels of a number of key ripening-related genes. The integration of RNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data suggests a potential positive impact of m1A modifications on gene expression. In comparison to the AC fruits, the hypomethylation and reduced expression of ethylene-related genes, ACO3, EBF1, and ERF.D6, in the Nr mutants likely underpin the distinct phenotypic traits observed between the two fruit genotypes at the Br6 stage. Overall, our study brings further arguments supporting the potential significance of m1A methylation modifications in fruit ripening, a developmental process that is instrumental to plant reproduction and to fruit sensory and nutritional qualities.

Effect of lemongrass and chili pepper oils on the quality of ripe tomato fruits stored under tropical ambient temperature

Postharvest quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits treated with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) oil was evaluated. Tomato variety Roma fruits of uniform size and weight at the red stage of ripening were overlaid with lemongrass oil only (L1P0), chili pepper oil only (L0P1), or mixtures in a ratio 1:1 (L1P1), and 1:2 (L1P2 and L2P1). Control (L0P0) was not treated with any oil. Treated and untreated fruits were stored at 280±20C and 46%±2 RH for 12 days. Treatments L1P0 and L2P1 oil inhibited postharvest tomato fruit rot for 12 days, whereas L1P2, L0P1, and L1P1 oil and the control showed rot within the range of 86.6% - 100% in 12 days. L1P0 and L2P1 also slowed fruit softening and significantly reduced weight loss, though L1P0 was the most protective. Total soluble solid content of fruit was not affected by both L1P0 and L2P1 throughout storage, but the parameter reduced significantly (p<0.05) in fruits treated with L1P1, L1P2, L0P1 and in control. Reduction in titratable acidity during storage was least in fruits treated with L1P0 followed by L2P1, compared to that in other treatments and the control. This study showed that lemongrass oil applied as surface coating preserved tomato fruit quality in tropical ambient storage conditions for 12 days.

Valorization of tomato processing by-products: Predictive modeling and optimization for ultrasound-assisted lycopene extraction

Lycopene is a carotenoid highly valuable to the food, pharmaceutical, dye, and cosmetic industries, present in ripe tomatoes and other fruits with a distinctive red color. The main source of lycopene is tomato crops. This bioactive component can be successfully isolated from tomato processing waste, commonly called tomato pomace, mostly made from tomato skins, seeds, and some residual tomato tissue. The main investigative focus in this work was the application of green engineering principles in each stage of the optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of enzymatically treated tomato skins to obtain functional extracts rich in lycopene. The experimental plan was designed to determine the influence of studied operating parameters: enzymatic reaction time (60, 120, and 180 min), extraction time (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min), and temperature (25, 35 and 45 ℃) on lycopene yield. Process optimization was performed based on the yield of lycopene [1018, 1067, and 1120 mg/kg] achieved at optimal operating conditions. An artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed and trained for predictive modeling of the closed extraction system, with operating parameters used as input neurons and experimentally obtained values for lycopene content defined as the output neural layer. Applied ANN architecture provided a high correlation of experimental output with ANN-generated data (R=0.99914) with a model deviation error for the entire data set of RMSE=5.3 mg/kg. The k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm was introduced to predict lycopene yield using experimental key features: operating temperature, extraction time, and time of enzymatic treatment, split into training and testing sets with an 85/15 ratio. The model interpretation was conducted through the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) methodology.

Avoid Bruising of Tomatoes in Short Time

Cooling aluminum chambers have emerged as a promising solution for the storage of tomatoes, addressing the critical need to extend their shelf life while preserving quality post-harvest. This study delves into the efficacy of utilizing these chambers, aiming to optimize storage conditions for maximum preservation benefits. Through meticulous experimentation, various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and airflow dynamics within the chamber were meticulously examined. Additionally, the study scrutinized the influence of different packaging methods on tomato preservation efficacy. The findings underscore the remarkable capability of cooling aluminum chambers to regulate storage environments, effectively retard ripening processes and mitigating microbial proliferation. Lower temperatures within the chambers significantly curtailed the pace of tomato ripening, thus extending their shelf life appreciably. Moreover, meticulous humidity control within the chambers prevented moisture loss, curbing mold formation and decay. Furthermore, the study elucidated the profound impact of packaging methods on ethylene production and gas exchange, thereby influencing tomato quality during storage.

In-situ electrospinning PVB/Camellia oil/ZnO-TiO2 nanofibrous membranes with synergistic antibacterial and degradation of ethylene applied in fruit preservation

This work utilizes a handheld electrospinning device to prepare a novel nanofibrous composite membrane in situ for packaging freshness. It can realize pick-and-pack and is easy to operate. The nanofibrous membrane is based on PVB as the matrix material, adding Camellia oil (CO) and ZnO-TiO2 composite nanoparticles (ZT) as the active material. The antimicrobial property of the CO and the photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles give the material good antimicrobial and ethylene degradation functions. Meanwhile, this nanofibrous membrane has good mechanical properties, suitable moisture permeability and good optical properties. The nanofibrous membrane are suitable for both climacteric and non- climacteric fruits. Its use as a cling film extends the shelf life of strawberries by 4 days and significantly slows the ripening of small tomatoes. Therefore, this nanofibrous membrane has great potential for application in the field of fruit preservation.

Chlorogenic Acid as a Promising Tool for Mitigating Chilling Injury: Cold Tolerance and the Ripening Effect on Tomato Fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) has a very brief storability, displaying chilling injury (CI) when stored in cold conditions used to delay ripening. For this reason, in this study, different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 mg L-1) of chlorogenic acid (ChA) were assayed to evaluate its effectiveness in maintaining fruit quality traits and mitigating CI symptoms in tomatoes. Our results showed that ChA treatments effectively delayed weight loss and maintained fruit firmness, with optimal results observed at 50 mg L-1. In general, higher concentrations did not result in significant quality improvements. Additionally, ChA-treated tomatoes exhibited reduced values in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage (EL), indicating improved membrane integrity and reduced oxidative damage. ChA treatments also maintained a higher total phenolic content (TPC) during storage, with significant levels of individual polyphenols such as rutin, neochlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid, suggesting enhanced antioxidant capacity and better preservation of fruit quality. This is the first time the potential of ChA to reduce CI has been evaluated in any fruit species, and its impact in tomato ripening is shown to uphold fruit quality during cold storage, prolonging the storability of tomatoes. In particular, we highlight its natural origin and effectiveness as a postharvest treatment.

Growth Monitoring of Greenhouse Tomatoes Based on Context Recognition

To alleviate social problems in agriculture such as aging and labor force shortages, automatic growth monitoring based on image measurement has been introduced to tomato cultivation in greenhouses. The overlap of leaves and fruits makes precise observations challenging. In this study, we applied context recognition to tomato growth monitoring by using a Bayesian network. The proposed method combines image recognition using convolutional networks and context recognition using Bayesian networks. It enables not only the recognition of individual tomatoes but also the evaluation of tomato plants. An accurate number of tomatoes and the condition of the stocks can be estimated based on the number of ripe and unripened tomatoes in addition to their density information. The verification experiments clarified that a more accurate number of tomatoes could be estimated than with simple tomato detection, and the stock states could also be evaluated correctly. Compared to conventional methods, the method used in this study has improved tomato decision accuracy by 23%.

Artificial intelligence assisted tomato plant monitoring system – An experimental approach based on universal multi-branch general-purpose convolutional neural network

Real-time monitoring of tomato plants in plant factories is necessary to identify and classify diseases at early stages to prevent possible outbreaks. The proposed DeepD381v4plus network exhibits higher class-wise accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score and Matthews correlation coefficient scores exceeding 0.96 for multi-varietal tomato leaf diseases. During the reproductive stage, bud formation, flower appearance, bite marks and fruit set also need to be monitored to confirm pollination. The detector DeepDet381v4 – YOLOv4M achieves the highest mean average precision (mAP) (0.90) and lowest mAP (0.68) in the TFl_Blooming class and the lowest mAP (0.68) in the TFl_Transforming class. However, in real-world simulations, DeepDet381v4 – YOLOv4M can detect and count ripe tomatoes at a distance of 40 cm with little to no error. Both networks used for classification and detection–counting tasks have small sizes with high classification and detection efficiency (>27 fps). Overall, the proposed experimental approach will help farmers prevent disease outbreaks, monitor flower shapes that can set fruits at the highest rate, timely detect and count ripened fruits or recognise damaged fruits due to surface cracks or diseases for harvesting at their optimal maturity stage. This will reduce the labour costs, improve cultivation management and ensure excellent quality of the harvested tomatoes.

Design and Experiment of Nighttime Greenhouse Tomato Harvesting Robot

In response to the issue of high tomato yield, low efficiency in harvesting tomatoes grown in greenhouses, and low recognition accuracy of nighttime harvesting robots, a design was developed and a robotic system was created specifically for nighttime greenhouse tomato harvesting. The robot employs a vision system and YOLOv5+HSV fusion algorithm to recognize and locate tomatoes. It then transmits this information to the robotic arm. By coordinating the visual system, the robotic arm, the end effector, and the lifting mechanism, the robot accurately picks ripe tomatoes. The robot was subjected to simulated field tests for visual recognition and harvesting, both during daytime and nighttime conditions. The results showed that the success rate of nighttime harvesting was slightly lower than during the daytime but remained at a relatively high level. The daytime harvesting success rate and the average time to pick a single fruit were 87.78% and 15.99 seconds, respectively. The nighttime harvesting success rate and the average time to pick a single fruit were 87.55% and 17.26 seconds, respectively. This approach effectively improves the recognition accuracy and harvesting speed of the harvesting robot, reducing damage to tomatoes during harvesting, and addresses the issues of supplementary lighting and image noise reduction for nighttime harvesting robots.

Potential Human Health Risk from Toxic/Carcinogenic Arsenic in Ripe and Unripe Tomatoes Grown in Wastewater Exposed Zone

Potential Human Health Risk from Toxic/Carcinogenic Arsenic in Ripe and Unripe Tomatoes Grown in Wastewater Exposed Zone

Saponin Esculeoside A and Aglycon Esculeogenin A from Ripe Tomatoes Inhibit Dendritic Cell Function by Attenuation of Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling.

Dendritic cells (DCs) can initiate immune response through the presenting antigens to naïve T lymphocytes. Esculeoside A (EsA), a spirosolane glycoside, is reported as a major component in the ripe fruit of tomato. Little is known about the effect of tomato saponin on mice bone marrow-derived DCs. This study revealed that EsA and its aglycon, esculeogenin A (Esg-A), attenuated the phenotypic and functional maturation of murine DCs stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that EsA/Esg-A down-regulated the expression of major histocompatibility complex type II molecules and costimulatory molecule CD86 after LPS stimulation. It was also determined that EsA-/Esg-A-treated DCs were poor stimulators of allogeneic T-cell proliferation and exhibited impaired interleukin-12 and TNF-α production. Additionally, EsA/Esg-A was able to inhibit TLR4-related and p-NFκB signaling pathways. This study shows new insights into the immunopharmacology of EsA/Esg-A, and represents a novel approach to controlling DCs for therapeutic application.

Preparation of modified atmosphere packaging based on the respiratory characteristics of cherry tomato and its freshness preservation application

Cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) belongs to the respiratory leap type of fruit, post-harvest respiratory metabolism exuberant, easy to lead to nutrient loss, tissue destruction, and then rotting and deterioration, seriously affecting its commercial value. Therefore, research on post-harvest preservation technology of cherry tomatoes is crucial for related industries. Spontaneous modified atmosphere film packaging technology can extend the storage period of fruits and vegetables by adjusting the gas concentration of the storage environment, so that the fruits and vegetables can be maintained at a level suitable for their storage. In this study, the respiration model of cherry tomatoes at different temperatures was established by measuring the respiration rate of cherry tomatoes at different temperatures. It was found that the respiration rate of cherry tomatoes increased with increasing temperature and gradually decreased with increasing storage time. T-test results showed that there was no significant difference between the experimental values and the predicted values. The chemical kinetic model and its equilibrium equation were used to determine the parameters of modified atmosphere packaging of cherry tomatoes. PEG/PVDF membranes and SPEEK/PEG/PVDF blend membranes were prepared with sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) according to the parameters of modified atmosphere membranes to keep cherry tomatoes fresh. The results showed that there was a significant effect of package method on the preservation parameters of cherry tomatoes, the SPEEK/PEG/PVDF membrane treatment group significantly reduced the weight loss rate of cherry tomatoes and maintained the lower film permeability and higher sound fruit rate, hardness, titratable acid (TA) content, VC content and total soluble solids (TSS) content of cherry tomatoes. It can effectively delay the ripening and senescence of cherry tomatoes and extend the fruit storage period.

Zoophytophagous predator sex pheromone and visual cues of opposing reflectance spectra lure predator and invasive prey.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the invasive South American leafminer Phthorimaea absoluta is the most damaging tomato pest. Females of the pest can reproduce both sexually and through parthenogenesis and lay their eggs on all tomato plant parts. The mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis, a biological control agent for the pest, is also a tomato pest when prey population is low. To date, however, no study has developed an eco-friendly solution that targets both the predator and its host in a tomato farming system. To develop a bio-based management system for both pest and predator based on the combined use of sexual communication in the predator and visual cues. We collected volatiles from both sexes of the Kenyan population of the predator N. tenuis and identified candidate sex pheromone components by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We used electrophysiological assays to identify antennally-active odorants in the volatiles, followed by field trials with different pheromone-baited colored traps to validate the responses of both predator and prey. Thereafter, we compared the reflectance spectra of the colored traps with those of different tomato plant tissues. Our results reveal an interplay between different sensory cues which in the predator-prey interaction may favor the predator. Antennae of both sexes of predator and prey detect the predator sex pheromone identified as 1-octanol and hexyl hexanoate. Unexpectedly, our field experiments led to the discovery of a lure for P. absoluta females, which were lured distinctly into a pheromone-baited trap whose reflectance spectrum mimicked that of ripe tomato fruit (long wavelength), an egg-laying site for females. Contrastingly, N. tenuis males were lured into baited white trap (short wavelength) when the predator is actively searching for prey. Our results demonstrate the novel use of a predator sex pheromone and different visual cues to assess complex trophic interactions on tomatoes.