Title: Assessment of chemical composition of tomato fruits depending on the cultivar and 1-MCP treatment
Abstract: The experiments on influence of 1-MCP treatment on the content of some chemical compounds in tomato fruits were performed. For the experiments two greenhouse cultivars of tomato were selected: ‘Faustine F1’ and ‘Habana F1’ (LSL type – long shelf life). Both tomato cultivars were grown on stakes in the field. Tomato fruits were harvested in mature green and full-red stages of maturity. Tomato fruit were treated with 1-MCP at the concentrations of 1.0 or 2.0 μl·l-1 and then stored at the temperature of 12.5°C or 20°C, and 85–90% of relative humidity in ambient atmosphere. Immediately after harvest and after 4 weeks of storage chemical analyses were carried out. The results showed some significant differences in the content of determined compounds depending on 1-MCP treatment, stage of maturity and storage temperature. Fruits of both cultivars showed a higher content of phenolics and dry matter in the case of fruits treated with 1-MCP. The highest content of lycopene was found in tomato fruits of both cultivars harvested in full-red stage, after storage at 20°C. Tomato fruits treated with 1-MCP were characterized by a lower content of lycopene and vitamin C compared to the untreated fruits.