DETERMINATION OF TOMATO SHELF LIFE UNDER AGROCLIMATIC CONDITION USING GAMMA RADIATION

Abstract

In this study, the determination of tomato shelf life under agroclimatic condition using gamma radiation was undertaken. The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) method was employed to determine the nutritional profiles of freshly harvested matured unripe tomatoes (Roma VFN and UTC species) free of mechanical injury or physiological disorder packaged inside an envelope and irradiated using gamma irradiation of doses 0.40kGy, 0.70kGy and 1.00kGy. Analyses were performed in replicates and expressed by means of standard deviation. Statistical significance was established using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and correlation analyses to estimate the effect of gamma irradiation on proximate composition of the tomatoes variety used. Means were separated according to Duncan Multiple range analysis at P d” 0.05 with the help of software SPSS version 23. Results of the study indicate that irradiation of tomatoes with gamma irradiation doses of 0.4kGy, 0.7kGy and 1.0kGy had no significant effect on the nutritional content of the tomato varieties irradiated. The study showed that gamma irradiation at 0.40kGy to 1.0kGy was effective in reducing rotting and enhancing the extension of the shelf life of the tomatoes for 11 days with the optimum dose for shelf life extension being determined to be 1.0kGy.