Post-Harvest Physiology of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. Mill) under different Drying Environments and Methods

Abstract

Post-harvest losses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. Mill) are enormous making output not commensurable with cost of production talk less of profit. Post-harvest management that will reduce lost and make the product available during off-season becomes pertinent. Thus, this research was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria (Latitude 950 45” 50.34” N and Longitude 110 00” 24.43”), to study the post-harvest physiology of tomato under different drying environments and methods. Solar drier was constructed using blocks, cement, iron bars, wire mesh, black paint and polythene sheets for Experiment 1. A tarpaulin was obtained for sun drying in farmer’s way in an open environment as Experiment 2. Tomato was obtained from the market to form the treatments of the two experiments as follows: sliced and dried inside the solar drier, unsliced and dried inside the solar drier, sliced and dried on tarpaulin outside the solar drier and unsliced and dried on tarpaulin outside the solar-dried. The parameters assessed for the two experiments were weight loss (g), days to final drying, percentages physical appearance, fungal load, total dry matter, crude protein, oil content, crude fibre, ash and nitrogen-free extract. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using least significant differences at 5 %. The two experiments were compared using bar charts. Results revealed that sliced tomato inside the solar drier, dried within few days (5 days) with good physical appearance, low fungal load and other contaminants. Thus, solar drier environment and sliced tomato method should be adopted to curb post-harvest wastage and make tomato available during off-season.