CHANGES IN pH, TITRATABLE ACIDITY, AND SOLUBLE SOLIDS OF PROCESSING TOMATO VARIETIES IN RELATION TO FRUITS STORAGE UNTIL PROCESSING

Variation of pH, titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids (SS) content in fruits of four tomato cultivars (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) left on vine after complete maturity or picked in boxes and stored under shade or sun during 14 days, were investigated. The cultivars studied were, "Rio Grande", "Bull", "Titano" and "Campbell-38". There was a strong variability among cultivars from year to year, particularly in the ways of storage off the plant. Fruits of all cultivars during vine storage showed increase in pH value whereas lost a considerable portion of TA after 3 days in 1990 and after 8 days in 1991. The SS content increased in all varieties during vine storage. As the storage in shade or in sun prolonged, all cultivars showed increase in pH or decrease in TA and in SS%. "Campbell-38" was rather susceptible to the changes under sun storage in 1990 but was very resistant under shade and sun storage in 1991. "Bull" was the most resistant in 1990, whereas it was the most susceptible in 1991. "Titano" showed medium behaviour, and the "Rio Grande" was the most susceptible cultivar in 1990 and almost the most susceptible in 1991.