Evaluation of the Effect of Ethephon in Postharvest Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of applying ethephon on postharvest tomato.

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Applied Food Science and Nutrition, Department of Food Processing and Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh. It was conducted for a period of six months from 1st January, 2018 to 30th June, 2018.

Methodology: TSS (Total Soluble Solid) was determined by using hand refractometer, proximate composition by standard AOAC method, vitamin C and β-carotene by UV-spectrophotometric method, sodium and potassium by flame photometric method, titratable acidity, calcium and magnesium by titremetric method. To compare differences in control and treated group, significant difference was considered at the level of P<0.05.

Results: Ethephon treated tomatoes ripen quickly with attractive surface color and had shorter shelf life than non-treated tomatoes (control). Physico-chemical properties including total soluble solid and titratable acidity increased significantly (P<0.05) in treated group (4.66±0.57°B; 0.32±0.01% respectively) than control (3.33±0.57°B; 0.28±0.01% respectively). Moisture content also significantly (P<0.05) increased in ethephon treated tomato (94.15±0.27g/100g) than non-treated (85.54±0.23g/100g). But significantly lower amount of carbohydrate, ash, crude fiber were observed in artificially ripened tomato by ethephon (2.5±0.45g/100g; 0.51±0.02g/100g; 0.82±0.03g/100g respectively) than naturally ripened (3.7±0.26g/100g; 0.59±0.01g/100g; 0.90±0.01g/100g respectively). Apparently protein and fat content were found insignificantly less amount in artificially ripened tomato by ethephon. The significant lowest concentration of vitamin C and β-carotene were observed in ethephon ripened tomato (16.65±0.01mg/100g; 413.33±1.15μg/100g respectively). Mineral contents of ethephon treated tomato (Na 3.65±0.47mg/100g; K 199±1.00mg/100g; Ca 4.75±0.07mg/100g; Mg 8.57±0.19mg/100g) found significantly (P<0.05) fewer amounts than control tomato (Na 3.96±0.01mg/100g; K 213.67±0.57 mg/100g; Ca 5.57±0.15mg/100g; Mg 9.96±0.04mg/100g).

Conclusion: Application of ethephon on postharvest tomato hastens ripening time and physico-chemical properties but reduces shelf life and nutritive value of tomato.