Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

The tomato is a climacteric vegetable crop with high capacity for production of ethylene.  Approximately 30% of the crop is lost in the consumption chain during harvest. In this study, two concentrations of nano-TiO2 in the form of TiO2 slurry were applied to tomato containers to evaluate ethanol, acetaldehyde and off-flavor decomposition in the storage atmosphere of tomatoes. The Halil tomato cultivar was harvested at the red stage of ripening for use in this study. The results showed that the TiO2 in the presence of UV light and proportional to the concentration can remove up to 85% of ethylene gas and 100% of ethanol and acetaldehyde from the tomato storage atmosphere. The extent of ethylene, ethanol and acetaldehyde removal caused by TiO2 photo catalytic reactions depended on the TiO2 concentration. A test panel determined that off-flavors were present in the storage atmosphere of the control treatment at 4 d after storage and was highest at 10 d. Off-flavors were not present in the storage atmosphere treated with 5g/l TiO2 at 8 d. At the end of 12 d of storage, the lowest level for off-flavor was detected in this treatment.

Keywords

Abeles, F. B. and Morgan, P. W. 1992.  Ethylene in Plant Biology. 2nd Ed. San Diego, Cal. Academic Press.
Akiyama, S. and Taoda, H. 2000.  Hikari shokubai to kanrengijutsu: 21 seikikigyo no technology, Tokyo, Japan: Nikkankogyo Shimbunsha. (in Japanese)
Batu, A. 2004. Determination of acceptable firmness and color values of tomatoes. J. Food Eng. 61(3): 471-475.
Bruemmer, J. H. 1986. Regulation of acetaldehyde and ethanol accumulation in citrus fruit. In: Parliament, T. H. (Eds.) Biogeneration of Aromas. ACS Symposium Series. Washington D. C. American Chemical Society. 276-285.
El Blidi, A., Rigal, L. Malmary, G., Mlinier, J. and Toress, L. 1993. Ethylene removal for long- term conservation of fruits and vegetables. Food Quality. Pref. 4(3):199-126.
Fujishima, A., Hashimoto, K. and Watanabe, T. 1999. TiO2 Photo catalysis: Fundamentals and Applications. Tokyo, Japan: BKC.
Fukahori, S., Ichiura, H., Kitaoka, T. and Tanaka, H. 2003. Photocatalytic decomposition of bisphenol A in water using composite TiO2-zeolite sheets prepared by a papermaking technique. Environ. Sci. Tech.  7(5):1048-1051.
Graham, T. K., Veenstra, J. N. and Armstrong, P. P. 1998. Ethylene removal in fruit and vegetables storage using a plasma reactor. Trans. ASAE. 41(6): 1767-1773.
Gil, M. I., Gorny, J. R. and Kader, A. A. 1998. Response of ‘Fuji’ apple slices to ascorbic acid treatments and low-oxygen atmosphere. Hort. Sci. 33(2): 305-309.
Kader, A. A. 1986. Biochemical and physiological basis for effects of controlled and modified atmospheres on fruits and vegetables. Food Tech. 40(5): 99-100, 102-104.
Kuo, W. S. and Lin, Y. T. 2000. Photocatalytic oxidation of xenobiotics in water with immobilized TiO2 on agitator.  J. Environ. Sci. Health B. 5(1): 61-75.
Ku, Y. and Jung, I. L. 2001. Photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) in aqueous solutions by UV irradiation with the presence of titanium dioxide. Water Res. 35(1): 135-142.
Longhurt, T. J., Tung, H. F. and Brady, C. J. 1990. Development regulation of the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase in ripening tomato fruits. J. Food Biochem. 14(6): 421-433.
Maneerat, C., Hayata, Y., Egashira, N., Sakamoto, K., Hamai, Z. and Kuroyanagi, M. 2003. Photo catalytic reaction of tio2 to decompose ethylene in fruit and vegetable storage. Trans. ASAE. 46(3): 725-730.
Muggli, D. S. and Ding, L. 2001. Photo catalytic performance of sulfated TiO2 and degussa P-25 TiO2 during oxidation of organics. Applied Catalysis B: Environ. 32(3):181-194.
Nakajima, N., Ito, T., Tamaoki, M., Aono, M., Kubo, A. and Saji, H. 2001. Generation of ozone-resistant plants with an anti-sense DNA for ACC Synthase .Available at: www.nies.go.jp/kenko/biotech/ito/ito.html. Accessed on 10 July 2012.
Nichols, W. C. and Patterson, M. E. 1987. Ethanol accumulation and poststorage quality of ‘Delicious’ apples during short-term, low-O2, CA storage.  Hort. Sci. 22(1): 89-92.
Park, D. R., Zhang, J., Ikeue, K., Yamashita, H. and Anpo, M. 1999. Photo catalytic oxidation of ethylene to CO2 and H2O on ultrafine powdered TiO2 photo catalysts in the presence of O2 and H2O. J. Catalysis. 185(1): 114-119.
Payan, R. 2003. Principles of Quality Control in the Food Industry. Tehran, Iran. (in Farsi)
Pesis, E. 2005. The role of the anaerobic metabolites, ethylene, and ethanol in fruit ripening, enhancement of fruit quality and fruit deterioration. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 37 (1):1-19.
Porat, R., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Daus, A. and Aharoni, N. 2004. Reduction of postharvest rind disorders in citrus fruit by modified atmosphere packaging. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 33(1): 35-43.
Porat, R., Weiss, B., Cohen, L., Daus, A., Goren, R. and Droby, S. 1998. Effects of ethylene and 1-methylcyclopane on the postharvest qualities of ‘Shamouti’ oranges. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 15(2): 155-163. 
Rodov, V., Copel, A., Aharoni, N., Aharoni, Y., Wiseblum, A., Horev, B. and Vinokur, Y.  2000. Nested modified atmosphere packages maintain quality of trimmed sweet corn during cold storage and the shelf life period. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 18(3): 259-266.
Rushing, J. W., Bihn, E. A., Brown, A. E., Martin, L. Y. and Suslow, T. V. 2011. Improving the Safety and Quality of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A training manual for trainers. Extension Service. University of Maryland, College Park 20740, Maryland, USA.
Seoun Hur, J., Mi Lim, K. and Ok Oh, S. 2005. Novel effects of TiO2 photo catalytic ozonation on control of postharvest fungal spoilage of kiwifruit. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 35(1):109-113.
Wills, R. B. H. and Ku, V. V. 2002. Use of 1-MCP to extend the time to ripen of green tomatoes and postharvest life of ripe tomatoes. Postharvest Biol. Tech. 26(1): 85-90.
Zorn, M. E., Tompkins, D. T., Zeltern, W. A. and Anderson, M. A. 2000. Catalytic and photo catalytic oxidation of ethylene on titanium-based thin films. Environment. Sci. Tech. 34(24):5206-5210.