Abstract

LOPEZ VALENZUELA, José Ángel et al. Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on the postharvest and nutritional quality of tomato fruit. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.2, pp.115-128. ISSN 2007-4034.

The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage on the postharvest quality and nutritional content of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) 'Imperial'. Mature green fruit were stored at 12 °C under refrigeration (ambient air, AIR) or CA (4 kPa O₂ + 96 kPa N₂) at 12 °C for up to 21 days before being transferred to air at 23 °C for up to 12 days. Three fruits were taken per treatment after zero, four, eight and 12 days of ripening at 23 °C to evaluate external color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), CO₂ and ethylene production rates, and ascorbic acid, β-carotene and lycopene content. CA storage delayed the loss of firmness and ascorbic acid degradation. It also decreased CO₂ and ethylene production rate, β-carotene and lycopene synthesis, delaying red color development and ripening. The results indicate that storage of tomato fruit under CA extends the shelf life and the marketing period compared with traditional refrigeration systems.

Keywords : Solanum lycopersicum; ascorbic acid; β-carotene; lycopene; metabolic activity.

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