Title: Photosensitisation combined with ozone gas delays the postharvest ripening of stored tomato

Authors: Sayali More; T.V. Ramana Rao

Addresses: P.G. Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, India ' P.G. Department of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, India

Abstract: Tomato faces pathogen attack which is a major cause of postharvest losses. The present study is carried out to minimise its postharvest losses and to extend its shelf life by physical elicitors such as photosensitisation, ozone and UV-C. The quality of the fruit was evaluated by the quantitative analysis of physico-chemical, biochemical and enzymatic assay at a regular interval of 5 d during storage. The results showed significantly higher levels of total phenols, ascorbic acid, carotene, lycopene and the antioxidant activity throughout their storage as compared to control. The fruits of T5 group (photosensitisation and ozone gas treatment) remained marketable up to 40 d, while the non-treated fruits were acceptable up to 22 d. The nutritional quality of stored tomato was also found better in treated fruit than control. These results suggest that the photosensitisation and ozone is found effective in the postharvest extension of tomato and maintaining their nutritional quality.

Keywords: ozone gas; photosensitisation; shelf life; tomato; UV-C irradiation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2020.108743

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2020 Vol.7 No.1, pp.42 - 55

Received: 26 Mar 2019
Accepted: 14 Dec 2019
Published online: 30 Jul 2020 *

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