Optimization of storage temperatures to maintain Lycopene content of tomato from moderate water stress irrigated greenhouse

This research objective is to analyze the storage temperatures that optimize lycopene of tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum, cv.Taiankitijitsu) from moderate water stress irrigation and to compare it with normal irrigated tomato in hydroponic greenhouse system. Harvested tomatoes were stored in various temperatures (10, 15, 25 and 30 °C) until mature stage and lycopene content was observed with destructive method using spectrophotometer. Optimum temperature was analyzed by Minitab 15 Statistical Software using surface response methodology. After 16 days of storage, lycopene of water stress tomato attained 8,152 mg/100 g (10 °C), 11,636 mg/100 g (15 °C), 11,747 mg/100 g (25 °C), and 11,947 mg/100 g (30 °C) respectively. Storaging tomato at 10 °C remained the lycopene of water stress tomato in stable trend. Temperatures above 15°C increased lycopene of both water stress and normal irrigated tomato. Lycopene of normal irrigated tomato increased only for first 8 days with temperature 15 °C (slightly increase), 25 °C, and 30 °C (highest lycopene value). After 8 days of storage, the trends tend to drop. Analysis of multivariate multiple regressions showed low R2 value of lycopene during storage. Optimization using Minitab 15 Statistical Software showed temperature of 24.52°C with 11 days storage and might reached 10.71 mg/100g