Old and endangered organically cultivated greenhouse tomatoes: effect of the harvest time on the flavour ingredients and consumer acceptance
2006
Gkisakis, V.
Different harvest times (Optimal and 4-days early harvest) of four specific old and endangered tomato cultivars (Ananas, Auriga, Green Zebra and Lukullus) were tested whether they produce a diverse effect on the tomato flavour and appearance in correlation with the consumer acceptance. Chemical analysis showed that all cultivars were partly affected by the experimental factors of the stage of ripeness and the level of fertilization: The acid content presented differences among the cultivars, but neither the harvest time nor the organic N-fertilization had a significant effect. The different harvest time had almost no influence on the reducing sugar content, which exhibited also small differences among cultivars aroma volatiles profile presented significant differences among the cultivars as well as among the harvest times for cultivars Ananas, Auriga and Green Zebra. In the consumer acceptance test, although the differences identified in several apparent and sensory aspects among cultivars and harvest times, both early and optimal harvest was appreciated similarly with a small precedence of the optimal stage, especially in August. In September, optimal harvested tomatoes were distinguished from the early harvested, probably due to reasons like the stability of the physiological characteristics of the tomato plant, its productiveness and seasonal factors. The above results could be integrated as important clues in the development of a regional market plan, based on the cultivar's special attributes, guaranteeing the preservation of these old and endangered cultivars and the gradual enhancement of agricultural biodiversity.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]