POST-HARVEST TREATMENT OF TOMATOES WITH LEAF POWDERS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ENHANCES SHELF LIFE

Authors

  • Lalitha Pappu

Abstract

Preservation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) at room temperature for prolonged periods is a challenge as tomato is a climacteric fruit. Of the existing methods of storage, only cold storage is effective. However, this is very expensive and not within the reach of farmer. The effect of shade dried leaf powders of several tropical plants on shelf life of tomatoes at room temperature was examined based on the hypothesis that leaves containing cytokinin would enhance the shelf life of climacteric fruits. The shade dried leaf powders of Azadirachta indica and Peltophorum spp. enhanced tomatoes shelf-life by 57 and 54.2% respectively. The enhanced shelf life of tomatoes was related to zeatin content of leaves. Increasing concentration of pure zeatin increased shelf- life. Total carbohydrate and protein contents remained unchanged but vitamin C content was reduced in both control and treated groups over time. Dried leaf powders can be used to by farmers to preserve tomato fruit at room temperature upto 60 days.

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Published

2021-03-01

How to Cite

Lalitha Pappu. (2021). POST-HARVEST TREATMENT OF TOMATOES WITH LEAF POWDERS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ENHANCES SHELF LIFE. International Journal of Modern Agriculture, 10(1), 775 - 780. Retrieved from http://www.modern-journals.com/index.php/ijma/article/view/668

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Articles