EFFECTIVENESS OF NANOSILVER PACKAGING RELATED TO HEALTH AWARENESS OF TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM 'LECKAT 139') GROWN ORGANICALLY

The effectiveness of nanosilver packaging materials compared with other packaging materials in maintaining the antioxidant activity of tomato cultivar ‘Leckat 139’ was studied. The experiment was carried out by packing the tomatoes at colour index 4 (red colour) using perforated 0.04mm LDPE sealed (A), perforated nanosilver LDPE sealed (B), nanosilver cling wrap (C), and commercial cling wrap in polystyrene tray (control; D). Changes in antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid content and total phenolic content were observed during storage at 5°C for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks storage, antioxidant activity of tomatoes was not significantly (p>0.05) different in nanosilver packaging as compared to other packages. Tomato packed with perforated 0.04 mm LDPE sealed had highest antioxidant activity (40.64% of inhibition) compared to nanosilver (40.14% of inhibition) and control (37.93% of inhibition) during storage. The vitamin C content of ‘Leckat’ tomato was not significantly (p>0.05) different between packages during storage. Result shows that tomato packed with perforated 0.04 mm LDPE sealed were significantly (p<0.05) higher in antioxidant activity, total phenolic and ascorbic acid content during storage period compared to other packages during storage.