Biochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Different Types of Tomatoes Affected by Ethylene Treatment

Abstract

The effect of ethylene on biochemical composition and antioxidant activity in beefsteak, heirloom and cluster type of tomatoes were determined. For that purpose, tomato fruit were harvested at breaker maturity stage and divided into two groups one of which was applied with 150 μL L−1 ethylene while another remained untreated. Ethylene treated and untreated control fruit were stored at 12 °C and 90+5% relative humidity for 35 days with subsamples removed every 7 days for quality analysis. After each removal time, fruit were kept at 20 °C for additional 3 days to determine shelf life performance. Ethylene treatment enhanced the breakdown of total chlorophyll and accumulation of lycopene and carotenoid contents. At the end of cold storage and shelf life period, the maximum antioxidant activity, carotenoid and flavonoid contents were recorded in ethylene treated heirloom type tomatoes. It can be concluded that ethylene treated heirloom type tomatoes exhibited maximal postharvest quality as compared to beefsteak and cluster type of tomato in term of biochemical composition and antioxidant activity after 35 days of cold storage and shelf life.

Keywords

• ethylene
• antioxidant
• cold storage
• shelf life
• tomato quality