Abstract:

A kinetic model was developed to predict the lycopene content as a function of the luminosity (L) of mature green tomatoes stored at different temperatures. The L value and lycopene content of mature green tomatoes stored at 283.15, 288.15, 296.15 K or 298.15 K were determined. The kinetic models of L value and lycopene content with respect to length of storage and storage temperature were developed based on exponential function and Gomportz function, respectively. The high regression coefficients (R2 ＞ 0.95) indicated the acceptability of the exponential function and Gomportz function for predicting the changes of L value and lycopene content in tomato fruits. Activation energies (Ea) and multiple correlation coefficients for L value and lycopene content were obtained based on the Arrhenius equation: 48.09 kJ/mol and 67.06 kJ/mol, 0.9644 and 0.9815, respectively. The average relative error between the predicted and measured values of lycopene content was 8.74% (within ± 10%). These results suggest that lycopene content in mature green tomato fruits stored at a storage temperature from 283.15 to 298.15 K may be accurately predicted based on L value.

Key words: tomato fruit, L value, lycopene content, kinetic models