Abstract:
Tomato is a climatric fruit that having its ripen process as fast rate if taken
away from its tree at ambient temperature. Tomato were treated with 0.5% and
1.0% chitosan coating and were packed with LOPE film. The effectiveness of the
treatments was assessed by evaluating their impact on the following parameters:
loss of weight, flesh firmness, skin color and soluble solids content. LOPE film
were effective in decreasing surface damage and loss of firmness compared to
coated and control fruit. LOPE film markedly showed the ripening of tomato as
shown by their retention of firmness and delay changes in their skin color. Its also
showed the slowing down in weight loss. The tomato packed in LOPE film
effective in providing a physical barrier to moisture loss and therefore slowing
down the dehydration and fruit shriveling.
