Physico – Chemical Properties of Mature Green Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) Coated with Pectin During Storage and Ripening

E Delina Felix* and T Mahendran*

Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Baticaloa, Sri Lanka

Abstrsact

A study was undertaken to investigate the effect of pectin as an edible coating on the postharvest quality of mature green tomatoes at 30°C. The tomatoes were dipped in the concentrations of 1, 3 and 5% (w/v) pectin solutions for 5 min and stored at 30 ± 0.2°C. Fruits coated with 3% of pectin showed greater retention of ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and total sugars of 9.96 mg%, 0.41% and 11.2% respectively during storage. The shelf life of the tomatoes coated with 3% pectin solution increased up to 4 weeks without showing signs of decay and quality losses.

Key words: Pectin, Physio-chemical quality, Self life, Skin coating, Tomatoes

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* - Corresponding Author

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka

Copyright © 2007 by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna

Print ISSN 1391-3646 Online ISSN 2386-1533