Radiation and Temperature Conditions During Crop Determine Tomato Fruit Susceptibility to Postharvest Chilling Injury

RUIZ, VERONICA; REUTEMANN, ANDREA; DERITA, MARCOS; FERRERO, LUCIANO; MARTÍNEZ, GUSTAVO ADOLFO; BOUZO, CARLOS

HORTICULTURA BRASILEIRA

ASSOC BRASILEIRA HORTICULTURA

Año: 2023

0102-0536

The aim of this work was to improve the understanding about the relationship between the solar radiation and temperature exposure during crop and tomato fruit susceptibility to postharvest chilling injury. Two preharvest treatments were applied: direct sunlight exposed plants (Ex) and shaded plants (Sh). After harvest, fruits were stored at 10 ⁰C and 4 ⁰C for ten days. Then, fruits were removed from the chambers and stored at room temperature for four days. Several determinations were carried out: total mineral and calcium content, fruit quality and postharvest parameters, ions leakage and thiobarbituric acid reactive species content and chilling injury index (CII). Ex fruits had higher values of chilling injury index than the Sh fruits, and at the same time, fruits under 4 ⁰C storage treatment presented a more marked damage than those stored at 10 ⁰C, demonstrating that accumulated radiation in the field, as a result of a higher solar radiation exposure, is a critical factor affecting postharvest chilling injury susceptibility. The lower calcium content in the Ex fruits could be one of the causes of their response to chilling.