Advances in Postharvest Management of Cherry Tomato

Abstract

The cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) stands as a highly consumed fresh vegetable globally, renowned for its climacteric ripening nature and nutritional richness. Despite its popularity, the inherent challenges of a short shelf life, susceptibility to microbial decay, and mechanical damage contribute to significant postharvest losses. The continuous demand for fresh fruit vegetables containing health-promoting compounds, such as vitamin C, flavonoids, and carotenoids, has fuelled market growth due to both recognized health benefits and vibrant visual appeal. The current review delves into postharvest handling practices crucial for maintaining cherry tomato quality and extending shelf life. Key practices include harvesting, precooling, cleaning, disinfecting, sorting, grading, packaging, storing, and transportation and the advancement in this field. The impact of these practices on the overall postharvest mass loss, particularly in tropical and subtropical climates, is emphasized, with a focus on mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. The study reviews a spectrum of postharvest technologies for postharvest management of cherry tomato encompassing both physical and chemical treatments. Physical treatments include LowTemperature Conditioning, Controlled Atmosphere (CA), Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), Encapsulation and Ultraviolet Irradiation. Chemical treatments involve Edible Coating, melatonin, salicylates and jasmonate, polyamines, and various other chemical substances. Both physical and chemical treatments facilitate controlled gas diffusion, establishing equilibrium between external and internal gases, enhancing shelf life, and preserving quality. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into postharvest management practices and innovative technologies, addressing challenges associated with postharvest management in cherry tomatoes.