COMPOSITIONAL CHANGES OF VINE-RIPE GREENHOUSE TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) CULTIVARS FROM TWO TYPES OF SOILLESS GROWTH MEDIA

Studies were conducted to investigate quality attributes of four tomato cultivars (‘Caraibe’, ‘Summerstar’, ‘Striker’ and ‘Hybrid 61’) grown in a Gable roof greenhouse in two types of soilless growth media (spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and coconut coir (CC) and stored at 20°C for 10 days.
The cultivars were analyzed for marketable yield, colour, puffiness, number of locules, mesocarp thickness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acid (TTA), TSS:TTA and percentage decay-free fruits.
The tomato cultivar ‘Hybrid 61’ grown in CC had the highest marketable yield with no decay fruits after 10 days at 20°C, but tomato cultivar ‘Summerstar’ grown in both media had the highest incidence of fruit decay. ‘Caraibe’ and ‘Striker’ cultivars grown in SMS had a TSS value of 7.97 and 8.43 respectively and TTA of 103.68 and 112.90 mg/100 g respectively after 10 days at 20°C. ‘Striker’ grown in CC had the highest mesocarp thickness (7.82 mm) while ‘Hybrid 61’ grown in SMS which had the lowest mesocarp thickness (1.73 mm). The study indicates that the physiochemical attributes of vine-ripe tomato cultivars can be affected by the type of soilless growth media.

III International Conference on Postharvest and Quality Management of Horticultural Products of Interest for Tropical Regions

N. Mark, M. Mohammed, W.A. Isaac , L. Solomon

greenhouse, physiochemical attributes, storage, spent mushroom substrate, coconut coir

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1047.20