Effect of lemongrass and chili pepper oils on the quality of ripe tomato fruits stored under tropical ambient temperature

Postharvest quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits treated with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) and chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) oil was evaluated. Tomato variety Roma fruits of uniform size and weight at the red stage of ripening were overlaid with lemongrass oil only (L1P0), chili pepper oil only (L0P1), or mixtures in a ratio 1:1 (L1P1), and 1:2 (L1P2 and L2P1). Control (L0P0) was not treated with any oil. Treated and untreated fruits were stored at 280±20C and 46%±2 RH for 12 days. Treatments L1P0 and L2P1 oil inhibited postharvest tomato fruit rot for 12 days, whereas L1P2, L0P1, and L1P1 oil and the control showed rot within the range of 86.6% - 100% in 12 days. L1P0 and L2P1 also slowed fruit softening and significantly reduced weight loss, though L1P0 was the most protective. Total soluble solid content of fruit was not affected by both L1P0 and L2P1 throughout storage, but the parameter reduced significantly (p<0.05) in fruits treated with L1P1, L1P2, L0P1 and in control. Reduction in titratable acidity during storage was least in fruits treated with L1P0 followed by L2P1, compared to that in other treatments and the control. This study showed that lemongrass oil applied as surface coating preserved tomato fruit quality in tropical ambient storage conditions for 12 days.