Instrumented Color Determination and Sensory Analysis of Tomato Fruits (Lycopersicum Esculentum Mill)

Abstract

This research work reports the evaluation of tomato fruits (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) by means of sensory analysis as well as through instrumented color determination aiming of establishing some correlations between the results yielded by the two methods. Nowadays tomato fruits selection and sorting are based on the uniformity of physiological maturity which is considered adequate for harvesting. The sensory analysis was carried by selecting a group of trained volunteers applying a non-structured scale. The instrumental readings were carried using a “Macbeth” HUNTERLab equipment at five selected points on the transversal fruit axis. The sensory color determination indicated no significant differences (p = 0.05) between the following groups of days: 1, 3 and 5; 5 and 8; 10 and 12; and 12, 15, 17 and 19, however it indicated the occurrence of differences between the groups. Tomato fruits showed moderately characteristic colors between the 10th and 12th days and very characteristic colors from the 12thday.