Controlled Atmosphere Storage of Tomato using Diffusion Channel System

Enhancing the postharvest life of tomato is really desirable to reduce its losses during supply chain. Controlled atmosphere storage is the viable option for extending its shelf life. Firstly, experiments were conducted to determine the respiration rate (RR) of tomato at 10, 20 and 30°C using closed respiration system. Then, the potential of diffusion channel system was tested for extending the shelf life of tomato. RR was found to decrease with increasing CO2 and decreasing O2 concentration. Diffusion channel length viz., 60, 120, 180, 240 mm and diameter viz., 3, 6, 9, 12 mm were tested at 10, 20 and 30°C. The O2 concentration as low as 6-8% and CO2 concentration as high as 16-18% were maintained when the channel length 180 mm and diameter 9 mm. RR of tomato decreased with increase in channel length but increased with channel diameter. The physico-chemical characteristics indicated that the tomato can be stored upto 40, 32 and 23 days at 10, 20 and 30°C respectively under diffusion channel system. Shelf life of tomato could be increased 2-3 times when compared to control. Tomato stored under this system had better texture, harvest-fresh appearance and marketability conditions.