Title: Effect of desiccant evaporative cooler on quality attributes and shelf life of different tomato varieties

Authors: Emmanuel Mugwaneza; Nobert Wafula; Daudi M. Nyaanga

Addresses: Department of Dairy and Food Science and Technology, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Njoro, Kenya ' Department of Dairy and Food Science and Technology, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Njoro, Kenya ' Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115, Njoro, Kenya

Abstract: Due to a shortage of ventilated storage facilities, tomatoes may not fulfil the required quality criteria along the supply chain, which could result in significant losses for producers and vendors. In the current study, different tomato varieties (Ansal, Bolgan, and Pendo) were harvested and stored under different conditions (a desiccant evaporative cooler, an evaporative charcoal cooler, and an ambient room). Over 20 days of tomato storage, physicochemical characteristics such as firmness, weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), and beta carotene were measured to assess how well these storage conditions affected the quality and shelf life of the tomatoes. When compared to other storage conditions, the rate of change was noticeably slower in tomatoes kept in a desiccant evaporative cooler; consequently, it increased the shelf life of tomatoes of the exclusive variety Ansal. Thus, the use of desiccant evaporative coolers can be employed to reduce postharvest losses of tomatoes.

Keywords: tomato variety; evaporative cooler; quality attributes; shelf life; postharvest losses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2024.144957

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2024 Vol.9 No.4, pp.349 - 363

Received: 30 Jan 2024
Accepted: 20 Dec 2024
Published online: 13 Mar 2025 *

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