Open AccessAnalysis of Tomato Post‐Harvest Properties: Fruit Color, Shelf Life, and Fungal Susceptibility
Author(s) -
Thole Vera,
Vain Philippe,
Yang RayYu,
Almeida Barros da Silva Juliana,
Enfissi Eugenia M. A.,
Nogueira Marilise,
Price Elliott J.,
Alseekh Saleh,
Fernie Alisdair R.,
Fraser Paul D.,
Hanson Peter,
Martin Cathie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
current protocols in plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.831
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 2379-8068
DOI - 10.1002/cppb.20108
Subject(s) - botrytis cinerea , botrytis , shelf life , ripening , biology , horticulture , solanum , postharvest , fruit rot , fungicide , crop , blowing a raspberry , agronomy , food science
Abstract A wide variety of fresh market and processing tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum ) is grown and consumed worldwide. Post‐harvest losses are a major contributing factor to losses in crop productivity and can account for up to 50% of the harvest. To select and breed elite tomato varieties, it is important to characterize fruit quality and evaluate the post‐harvest properties of tomato fruits. This includes the analysis of shelf life (the period during which a fruit remains suitable for consumption without qualitative deterioration), color, and pathogen susceptibility. Tomato shelf life depends upon the rate of fruit softening which accompanies fruit ripening and exacerbates damage during transport and handling. Furthermore, the susceptibility of tomatoes to fruit pathogens is also often linked to fruit ripening, especially for necrotrophic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea , also known as gray mold. The methods described here are critical for determining fruit quality and fungal susceptibility during storage. © 2020 The Authors. Basic Protocol 1 : Fruit color as a determinant of fruit quality Basic Protocol 2 : Shelf life test of tomato fruits Basic Protocol 3 : Botrytis cinerea pathogen test of tomato fruits Support Protocol : Preparation of Botrytis spore inoculum