Abstract Detail
Mycological/Mycologie Section Ejale, Angela Uwayemen [1]. Preservation of fresh tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum M.) fruits with leaf extract of Momordica charantia L. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) - a type of vegetable, has become one of the most popular and widely grown vegetables in the world including Nigeria. It was introduced into West Africa through early Portuguese traders and freed slaves from West Indies . It constitutes an important component of the daily diet of many people generally including Nigerians. Tomato fruits are of a highly perishable nature, with a shelf life of between 12 hours to 72 hours. A great percentage of the potential harvest is lost to rot. The softening of the fruits is caused by macerating enzymes produced by pathogens like Alternaria spp. and Rhizopus stolonifer. Contaminations of healthy fruits are some of the evident consequences of decay. This results in heavy losses nutritionally to the consumers, and financially to the tomato farmers as well as the rural and urban dwellers far from areas of production who will have to pay more for a few healthy fruits that finally get to them. This study is a follow up to an earlier work in which ‘neem’ leaves were used to preserve the fresh fruits of tomatoes for 14days. In this study the leaf extract of Mormodi charantia was used to preserve healthy ripe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits for more than 45days.
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1 - university of benin, botany, p.m.b 1154,, Faculty of Life Science, benin city, edo state, 234, nigeria
Keywords:
Tomatoes
Fruits
Ripe
Preservation
Rot
Nigeria
Mormodica charantia
Local market
leaf
Extract.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Ball Room & Party Room/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 12:30 PM
Number: PMY002
Abstract ID:949 | 
