PRESERVATION OF TOMATO (SOLANUM LYCOPERSICUM) USING SUN AND SOLAR DRYING METHODS

Tomato is a fruit that perishes easily and changes are seen continuously even after harvesting the fruit depending on the environmental conditions. This study investigates the effect of different storage environment on the shelf life of tomato. Tomato fruit were harvested from a backyard garden at Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti. The effect of packaging materials on the shelf life of tomato were observed using carton, perforated polyethylene bag, non-perforated polyethylene bag and plastic container. The effect of packaging material on the physiological weight loss of tomato fruit at ambient temperature revealed that highest % weight loss (10.33%) was recorded for tomato packaged in perforated polyethylene bag while the lowest % weight loss (0.29%) was recorded for tomato packaged in carton at ambient temperature. Also the highest % decay loss (22.22%) was recorded for tomato packaged in non-perforated polyethylene bag while the lowest % decay loss was recorded for tomato packaged in carton (0.00%). The result also showed that highest % marketability (100.00%) was recorded for tomato packaged in carton while the lowest % marketability (77.78%) was recorded for tomato packaged in non-perforated polyethylene bag. The result also showed that highest acceptability (3.29%) was recorded for tomato packaged in carton while the lowest % marketability (2.72%) was recorded for tomato packaged in non-perforated polyethylene bag. Based on the result of this study it can be concluded that packaging of tomato fruits in carton resulted in longer shelf life with better-quality of the tomato produce.