Preharvest-Postharvest Interactions - the Case of Translucency and Colour in Tomatoes

摘要

Standard colour measurements can pose a serious problem for interpretation. For tomatoes the maturity at harvest does affect the colour that can maximally be obtained during postharvest storage. For more mature fruit up to 2 units (compared to 18 units tops) were found. This effect was ascribed to the level of a precursor produced during growth. More mature fruit also exhibit a more pronounced sensitivity to becoming translucent upon storage. This effect was also ascribed to the stage of developmentat harvest. Models were derived on plausible mechanisms to account for both effects of maturity at harvest in tomatoes.