Effect of Harvesting Method and Calcium on Post Harvest Physiology of Tomato

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan
during 2003 to find out the effect of harvesting method and calcium chloride treatment on postharvest
physiology of tomato. Tomato (Hybrid Gootya) fruits with stalk and without stalk were
harvested at breaker stage and dipped in distilled water and different concentrations of calcium
chloride viz. 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1% for fifteen minutes. Fruit were then air-dried and
stored at ambient condition (24 ± 3°C and 70 ± 5 % RH). Among the tested treatments the least
cumulative physiological weight loss (12.14%) was exhibited by 1% calcium chloride. The shelf
life of tomato fruits was significantly affected by harvesting method and calcium treatment.
Tomato fruit harvested with stalk had higher shelf-life (15 days) as compared to those harvested
without stalk (12.93 days) irrespective to calcium chloride application. The maximum shelf life
was noticed in 1% calcium chloride treated fruits (16.50 days) followed by 0.75% calcium
chloride treated fruits (16.17 days).

Key words: Calcium chloride; physiological weight loss; shell life; tomato

DOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1864

Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.7 2006 pp.37-41