Maintenance shelf-life quality of cocktail tomatoes by using UV-C illumination and Arabic gum coating

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Arabic gum (AG) coating, UV-C illumination and its combinations on postharvest quality parameters of cocktail tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Ipekce F₁ ). After harvest, mature green tomatoes were treated with 10% Arabic gum (AG10), 20% AG (AG20), 3.6 kJ m^-2 ultraviolet-C (UV-C) illumination, 3.6 kJ m^-2 UV-C+AG10 and 3.6 kJ m^-2 UV-C+AG20, and stored at 20 °C for 20 days.

The highest titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS) and the lowest weight loss were obtained in AG20 treatments. Maximum fruit firmness and L* value were in AG20 and UV-C+AG20 treatment. The greatest h° values were recorded in AG20, UV-C+AG20 and control group. The highest vitamin C content were obtained from AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treated tomatoes. Minimum lycopene content was determined from AG10, AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments. Maximum chlorophyll content was determined from UV-C+AG20-treated tomatoes. AG10, AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments resulted in lower ethylene emissions as compared to control and UV-C-treated tomatoes. AG20, UV-C+AG10 and UV-C+AG20 treatments generally had lower values than control and UV-C in term of respiration rates.

It is concluded that AG20 treatment effectively maintained the postharvest quality and biochemical properties of cocktail tomatoes as compared to other tested treatments. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.