Articles
Effect of growing substrate composition and storage temperature on quality parameters of a red mini plum tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Solarino’)
Article number
1458_29
Pages
219 – 226
Language
English
Abstract
Fertilizers from agri-food waste, such as biochar (BC) and wood distillate (WD), represent an innovative and sustainable solution in agriculture, improving fruit quality while promoting circular economy.
However, their effects on postharvest parameters of tomato fruits remain unexplored.
Due to its short shelf-life and sensitivity to mechanical damage, tomato is prone to significant postharvest losses.
This study aimed to evaluate, in a soilless system, the influence of substrate composition on the shelf life of a tomato red mini plum cultivar (‘Solarino’). BC and WD (3 mL L‑1) were added to a coconut fiber substrate, alone or in combination (2%BC, 5%BC, 2%BC+WD, 5%BC+WD). Eighteen plants per treatment were grown and fruits were harvested and stored at room temperature (RT) and at 4°C. Fruit quality parameters, such as color, firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, were monitored once a week for two weeks.
As expected, fruits stored at 4°C showed slower deterioration.
Substrate composition had a more pronounced effect at RT. In control samples, TSS increased by 13% after the first week of storage, followed by a 15% decrease during the second week.
On the other hand, in fruits from treated plants, increment and reduction percentages were markedly lower (on average +6.9 and -3.4%). In addition, growing substrate composition influenced the antioxidant activity, during the fruit storage, with a more marked increase registered for fruits from 2% biochar enriched substrate.
Preliminary results reported in this study highlight the influence of biochar in preserving fruit quality particularly at room temperature, where the metabolic activity is heightened.
However, their effects on postharvest parameters of tomato fruits remain unexplored.
Due to its short shelf-life and sensitivity to mechanical damage, tomato is prone to significant postharvest losses.
This study aimed to evaluate, in a soilless system, the influence of substrate composition on the shelf life of a tomato red mini plum cultivar (‘Solarino’). BC and WD (3 mL L‑1) were added to a coconut fiber substrate, alone or in combination (2%BC, 5%BC, 2%BC+WD, 5%BC+WD). Eighteen plants per treatment were grown and fruits were harvested and stored at room temperature (RT) and at 4°C. Fruit quality parameters, such as color, firmness, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, were monitored once a week for two weeks.
As expected, fruits stored at 4°C showed slower deterioration.
Substrate composition had a more pronounced effect at RT. In control samples, TSS increased by 13% after the first week of storage, followed by a 15% decrease during the second week.
On the other hand, in fruits from treated plants, increment and reduction percentages were markedly lower (on average +6.9 and -3.4%). In addition, growing substrate composition influenced the antioxidant activity, during the fruit storage, with a more marked increase registered for fruits from 2% biochar enriched substrate.
Preliminary results reported in this study highlight the influence of biochar in preserving fruit quality particularly at room temperature, where the metabolic activity is heightened.
Authors
A. Agosti, S. Nazeer, L. Del Vecchio, L. Leto, M. Cirlini, B. Chiancone
Keywords
biochar, circular economy, shelf-life, ‘Solarino’, wood distillate
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