Articles
EFFECT OF GROWTH REGULATORS ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF TOMATOES (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL, C.V. GIGANTE PIEDADE)
The regulators were sprayed only once over the whol plant, 38 days after seeding.
The tomatoes were harvested twice, 60 and 100 days after the regulators were applied.
Quality was evaluated through physical (soluble solids and color), chemical (pH, ascorbic acid content and pectinesterase zctivity) and sensory (color, flavor, external and internal aspects) analyses.
Within the range of this experiment the authors concluded that the growth regulators did not affect pH, color (both on physical and sensory evaluation), soluble solids and ascorbic acid contents.
The PE activity was slightly affected, being significant in the interaction between treatment and time of harvest.
Flavor was not affected but the tomatoes of the second harvest were significantly better than those from the first one.
The internal and external aspects were significantly affected by the regulators, being Ethephon the worst and CCC the best.
In terms of overall quality, the preference of the panel members rated treatment 2 (CCC) the best, followed by 5 (Ethepon), 1 (Control), 4 (Gibberellin) and 3 (Allar).