S23 - Session P11 - Efficacy of Drying Methods on Shelf Life and Quality of Tomato(Solanun Lycopersicum L.) Fruits In Makurdi, Benue State

Authors: Ngozi Ifeoma Odiaka *, Moses Tyokyaa Nyam

The experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of three drying methods (Oven, Dehytra TM and Sun dry) on the quality and shelf life of tomato ( Solanunn lycopersicum L.) fruit in Makurdi. The experiment was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated Ten times in which tomato variety Roma VF fruits were treated with Sodium Chloride at the rate of 0.0067g/v and untreated control as a check. Result showed that the treated sundried tomato fruits had significantly lower insect infestation (10) as compared with the untreated control (18) while tomato dried with dehytray TM had no insect infestation. The quality of tomato fruits were preserved by the use of the dehtray TM resulting in its moderate acceptability by panelist. The sensory properties (Appearance, General acceptability, smell and taste) showed that values for dehytray TM with respect to general acceptability (7.15), Smell (6.60) and Taste (6.43) were numerically higher across the three drying methods except for appearance (7.27) under oven dry. The result on proximate composition show that, the percentage ash content in Oven(3.53+-0.30),Dehytray TM (3.50+-0.08),Sun (3.88+-0.08) and Carbohydrate content in oven(77.00+- 0.30), dehytray TM (77.05+- 0.31) and sun (77.21+-0.42) was not significant (P > 0.05) across the three drying methods. The crude protein and fat content increased when this tomato fruits were dried using Sun, while the moisture content significantly reduced when this tomatoes were dried using dehytray TM (moisture=9.65+-0.20 , Protein= 3.80+-0.07, Fat=0.82+-0.02) and Oven (moisture=8.58+-0.07, protein=3.70+-0.07 and Fat=o.72+-0.02).The findings in this study showed that, the use of dehytray TM significantly preserved the nutrient components of dehydrated tomato fruits, decreased effect of insect infestations and thus, enhances shelf life of the of fruits.