Quality and postharvest life of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Produced under saline stress conditions

Resumen

Objective: To determine the post-harvest physiological behavior and quality changes of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown under saline stress conditions.

Design/methodology/approach: Tomato fruit quality variables (firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH), along with respiration rate and weight loss were assessed at harvest and after seven days of storage at room temperature. These parameters were compared between fruits grown under saline stress (250 mM sodium chloride) and non-stressed control fruits.

Results: Tomato fruits grown under saline stress exhibited higher (p<0.05) total soluble solids (6.92±0.22 °Brix) and titratable acidity (0.39±0.03 %), compared to the control fruits. No significant differences were observed in fruit firmness (13.01 N) or pH (5.86), at harvest time and after storage. The respiration rate decreased in both groups, from 30.77  at harvest time to 17.70   after storage; however, weight loss was not affected (11.50 %).

Limitations on study/implications: Soil sampling in the production area, to measure the fruit quality and its post-harvest physiological behavior are needed on a larger scale.

Findings/conclusions: Saline stress increases the total soluble solids and titratable acidity, but does not affect the firmness, pH, weight loss and respiration rate of tomato fruit at harvest time and after storage at room temperature.