PJB-2025-1528
Effects of different light quality on post-harvest tomato quality
Huimin Li, Yujie Jia, Jun Chen and Rongrong Jiang
Abstract
This study investigated how various light qualities impact the levels of lycopene, soluble sugars, total phenolic, soluble solids, and soluble protein in post-harvest tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to identify an appropriate form of artificial lighting. The test subjects included green tomatoes weighing 50g, 60g, and 70g. A single factor randomized block design was employed, where the cleaned and dried tomato fruits were subjected to five different light sources: fluorescent lamps (the control, CK), purple light (PL), blue plus red (BR), blue (B) and red (R) derived from rare earth plant light sources. The findings revealed that the content of lycopene and soluble protein in the tomatoes increased progressively with longer exposure times to the various light conditions. Specifically, tomatoes exposed to BR light exhibited the highest lycopene content, followed closely by those under R and B lights, while CK had the lowest. In terms of soluble protein, higher levels were noted in the BR and R treatments, with B and PL displaying moderate levels, and CK yielding the least. The soluble sugar levels were also highest under BR and R lights, followed by B and PL, with CK again being lower. For soluble solids, the highest content was found in tomatoes under BR conditions, with B and CK next, and PL showing the least. The total phenolic content peaked under BR and B treatments, followed by R, while CK and PL had reduced levels. Overall, utilizing BR light for post-harvest tomato irradiation appears to significantly enhance the quality of the physiological characteristics of the fruit. This research lays the groundwork for regulating the quality of post-harvest fruit and vegetables in relation to the control of the light environment, offering both theoretical insights and practical support
To Cite this article:
Li, H., Y. Jia, J. Chen and R. Jiang. 2025. Effects of different light quality on post-harvest tomato quality. Pak. J. Bot., 57(1): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-1(41)
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