- 期刊
- OpenAccess
Enhancing postharvest qualities in tomato value chains; the impact of cultivar types as quality indicator
並列摘要
This research investigated several postharvest quality parameters of five (5) highly recommended tomato cultivars (Akoma, Cal. J, Royal, Pectomech and Power) in Ghana. Fruits harvested at the pink colour stage were evaluated after ten (10) days' storage under an average temperature of 26.85°C and relative humidity of 84.55%. The findings shown significant difference (p＜0.05) among cultivars Royal, Pectomech, Akoma, Cal. J and Power in fruit general appearance, weight loss, firmness, decay, pericarp thickness, total soluble solids, dry matter and fruit shelf life. Cultivar Royal performed better in all the postharvest qualities studied than any other cultivar. However, with the exception of Total Soluble Solids, the findings revealed insignificant differences (p＞0.05) in postharvest quality traits studied between cultivars Royal and Pectomech. Even though Power fruits performed poorly in postharvest qualities studied, the result indicated insignificant difference (p＜0.05) in general appearance, fruit weight loss, pericarp thickness, total soluble solids, dry matter between cultivar Power and Cal. J. With exception of fruit general appearance and fruit pericarp thickness, the findings revealed insignificant differences (p＞0.05) among cultivars Akoma and Cal. J in all postharvest quality traits studied. Whiles fruit decay in cultivars Royal, Pectomech and Cal. J revealed a significant relationship with pericarp thickness, shelf life, the fruit decay in Akoma and Power showed significant correlation with only fruit shelf life. For better postharvest quality performance, this research advocates the adoption of cultivars Royal and Pectomech in tomato value chain operation in Ghana.