World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7 (5): 613-616, 2011 ISSN 1817-3047 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Corresponding Author: Monika Sood, Division of Post Harvest Technology FOA, SKUAST-J Udheywalla Jammu-180002, India. E-mail: monikasoodpht@gmail.com. 613 Effect of Post Harest Treatments on Changes in Sugar and Lycopene Content of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Monika Sood, Raj Kumari Kaul and Amriq Singh Division of Post Harvest Technology FOA, SKUAST-J Udheywalla Jammu-180002, India Abstract: The present investigation aimed to evaluating the combined effect of post harvest treatments, packaging and storage conditions on the changes in sugars and lycopene content of tomato. Tomato fruits with stalk and without stalk were harvested at breaker stage and subjected for shelf life studies. The fruits with best harvesting method (fruits with stalk) were treated with chlorine by first dipping the fruits in distilled water and then chlorine solution (200ppm sodium hypochlorite) for 15 minutes. The fruits were then air dried and packed in gunny bags and perforated LDPE bags. The packed fruits were stored under ambient and refrigerated conditions. The tomatoes were periodically analyzed for reducing sugar, total sugar and lycopene content. Fruits treated with chlorine, packed in LDPE bags and stored at refrigerated conditions improved the quality of tomatoes. Storage at ambient conditions resulted in higher change in sugar and lycopene content that resulted in quality deterioration of tomatoes. Hence, it could be concluded that post harvest chemical treatment with chlorine has the potential to preserve valuable attributes of tomato fruits. Key words: Tomato Sugar Lycopene Storage Chlorine INTRODUCTION extend post harvest life of fresh vegetables and fruits. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) is a herbaceous shown to delay ripening and extend shelf life [4]. The plant native to central, South and Southern North America microbial load associated with tomatoes during storage fro Mexico to Argentina [1]. The tomato is now grown plays an important role in quality deterioration [5]. Post world wide for its edible fruits. Proper harvesting harvest treatments of chlorine solution are known to determines the nutrient contents as well as storage reduce enzymatic activity and post harvest decay durability of any fruit. Tomato is normally harvested at problems, Chlorine treatments were found to be effective different maturity stages, such as green mature stage, in reducing the occurrence of post harvest decay by half ripe stage and red ripe stage. Being a climacteric pathogens [6]. Therefore, the present experiment was and perishable vegetable, tomatoes have a very short life undertaken to study the effect of chlorine, packaging and span. An increase in the storage life and improvement of storage conditions on sugars and lycopene content of tomato fruit quality is really desirable. tomato. A number of chemical and physical processes take place in vegetables during storage. Also, quality of most MATERIALS AND METHODS fruits and vegetables is affected by water loss during storage, which depends on the temperature and relative Collection of Sample: For the present study Himsona, one humidity conditions [2]. Hardenburg et al. [3] mentioned of very important commercial varieties of tomato, was that storage under low temperature has been considered used and for this purpose fruits with and without stalk at the most efficient method to maintain quality of most breaker stage was harvested from farmer’s field. fruits and vegetables due to its effects on reducing respiration rate, ethylene production, ripening, Treatments and Experimental Design: Tomato fruits senescence and rot development. (with and without stalk) of uniform size were selected and Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) using were sorted out to eliminate bruised, punctured and polymeric films is a simple and inexpensive method to damaged ones. The fruits were then stored at ambient In tomato modified atmosphere packaging has been