ISHS Acta Horticulturae 93: Symposium on Quality of Vegetables
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE OF TOMATOES |
| Authors: | C. Dennis, K.M. Browne, F. Adamicki |
| Abstract:
The use of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of mature green tomatoes has been investigated with a view to extending the U.K. tomato season. Fruit from commercial and experimental crops of both glasshouse-grown (Sonato, Sonatine) and outdoor-grown (Hundredfold, Vico, Fortuna) varieties have been used. Mature green fruit stored in CA's (3% O2, 5% CO2, 92% N2 or 5% O2, 5% CO2, 90% N2) at 13°C, 93–95% R.H. for between 6 to 10 weeks ripened more uniformly on transfer to air at 20°C than fruit stored continuously in air. The proportion of marketable fruit after CA storage varied according to variety, growing conditions, time of harvest, pre-storage treatment and storage conditions. Storage life was limited by excessive weight loss and fungal spoilage. Fruit stored in 5% O2, 5% CO2 retained a better flavour than fruit stored in 3% O2, 5% CO2. The cv. Hundredfold had a particularly good flavour and CA-stored fruit of this variety was consistently superior to fruit imported into the U.K. during December and January. | |
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