3. Effects of varieties and organic postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of cherry tomato

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from February to April 2020 to study the effects of varieties and organic postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of cherry tomato. The two-factor experiment consisted of two varieties viz. Binatomato 10 and BARI Tomato 11, and five organic postharvest treatments viz. control, chitosan coating (0.2%), garlic extract (1:1), hot water (50 °C for 5 mins) + chitosan coating (0.2%) and hot water (50°C for 5 mins) + garlic extract (1:1). The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The maximum weight loss (8.93%) was recorded in BARI Tomato 11 treated with garlic extract, while the minimum (5.93%) was found in Binatomato 10 treated with hot water + chitosan coating. The maximum TSS (8.67%) was recorded from BARI tomato 11 treated with control and the minimum TSS (6.13%) was found in Binatomato 10 treated with hot water + chitosan coating. The highest disease incidence (12.67%) and severity (21.67%), and shortest shelf life were recorded in BARI Tomato 11 fruits treated with control, whereas the lowest disease incidence (3.67%) and severity (3.57%), and longest shelf life (31.00 days) were found in Binatomato 10 fruits treated with hot water + chitosan coating. Therefore, Binatomato 10 treated with hot water + chitosan coating was found to be better in respect of extension of shelf life and quality retention of cherry tomato.