Effect of Post Harest Treatments on Changes in Sugar and Lycopene Content of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

The present investigation aimed to evaluating the combined effect of post harvest treatments, packaging and storage conditions on the changes in sugars and lycopene content of tomato. Tomato fruits with stalk and without stalk were harvested at breaker stage and subjected for shelf life studies. The fruits with best harvesting method (fruits with stalk) were treated with chlorine by first dipping the fruits in distilled water and then chlorine solution (200ppm sodium hypochlorite) for 15 minutes. The fruits were then air dried and packed in gunny bags and perforated LDPE bags. The packed fruits were stored under ambient and refrigerated conditions. The tomatoes were periodically analyzed for reducing sugar, total sugar and lycopene content. Fruits treated with chlorine, packed in LDPE bags and stored at refrigerated conditions improved the quality of tomatoes. Storage at ambient conditions resulted in higher change in sugar and lycopene content that resulted in quality deterioration of tomatoes. Hence, it could be concluded that post harvest chemical treatment with chlorine has the potential to preserve valuable attributes of tomato fruits.