FERTILIZER TYPE AND ETHYLENE REMEDIATION AFFECT POSTHARVEST QUALITY TRAITS OF STORED TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM L.) FRUITS
Keywords:
Solanum lycopersicum; fertilizer type; Postharvest quality; ethylene modulation.Abstract
Tomato fruits are highly perishable due to ethylene-mediated ripening. This study evaluated the effects of pre-harvest fertilizer applications of NPK 15-15-15, poultry manure, NPK-poultry manure composite, and unfertilized control with postharvest ethylene remediation treatments of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 µL/L 1-MCP; 5% and 10% KMnO4; 10 g and 20 g zeolite; and open-shelf storage, on some tomato quality traits. Fruits harvested at the breaker stage, across fertilizer treatments, subjected to the varying ethylene remediation agents, were assessed for firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, lycopene and vitamin C, using a 4 × 8 factorial laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. NPK 15-15-15 treatment produced significantly firmer fruits at harvest. Among remediation treatments, 0.3–0.5 µL/L 1-MCP and 5% KMnO₄ most effectively preserved firmness, titratable acidity and vitamin C during storage. Lycopene content was highest in open-shelf fruits and those treated with zeolite or 10% KMnO4, though these fruits exhibited concurrent softening. Open-shelf storage consistently resulted in inferior quality across all parameters. NPK fertilizer application combined with 1-MCP or 5% KMnO4 yielded optimal overall quality retention. The study concluded that integrating NPK fertilizer application with appropriate ethylene remediation, particularly 1-MCP or KMnO4, synergistically enhances postharvest quality and shelf life of tomato fruits.
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