Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Sobratee, N., Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Workneh, T.S., Department of Bioresources Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Tomato quality is determined by metabolite content which is governed by post-harvest physiological changes. A 30-day full factorial experiment investigated pre-packaging, disinfection and storage temperatures on 18 different biochemical, microbiological, enzymatic and subjective quality attributes of tomato quality. Principal component analysis revealed associations among the variables such as PC1 (28.85%): coliform/enzymatic softening; PC2 (21.52%): free sugars/sweetness; and PC3 (18.20%): sucrose hydrolysis/microbial spoilage/defense metabolites. Discriminant analysis showed that some specific parameters were highly significant (P<0.001) in determining quality changes in relation to the washing procedures and storage temperature. The prominence of ascorbic acid was observed in the equations which discriminate mostly on the basis of microbial deterioration. Further works in this respect entail fine-tuning through model verification of the equations. Multivariate analysis techniques are, therefore, recommended in studies whereby understanding of the phenomenon driving the post-harvest system's dynamics has to be understood through diverse interrelated metabolic parameters. © 2015 by De Gruyter.
Ascorbic acid; Chemical analysis; Discriminant analysis; Fruits; Harvesting; Metabolites; Multivariant analysis; Principal component analysis; dipping treatment; Full factorial experiment; Microbial deterioration; Microbiological quality; Multi variate analysis; Multivariate analysis techniques; Post harvest; Separation of variables; Quality control; Lycopersicon esculentum