Mechanical resistance, biometric and physicochemical characteristics of tomato cultivars for industrial processing

Abstract In order to help the choice and recommendation of cultivars with the greater mechanical resistance of fruits, this research aimed to determine the mechanical resistance and biometric and physicochemical characteristics of tomato cultivars for industrial processing. Eleven processing tomato cultivar fruits cultivar were used (IT761, H9992, H9553, AP533, Advance, N901, BR-Sena, U2006, HY26, HY37 and HY68). Tomatoes firmness was influenced by several factors, including thickness, epidermal cell shape, and internal structures. In general terms, fruits more resistant to compression and puncture presented low longitudinal diameter (55-59 mm), cross-sectional diameter (42-45 mm), scar diameter (5.8-6.6 mm), pericarp thickness (5.9-7.7 mm), fresh weight (56 - 70 g), volume (61-77 cm3) and ash (0.34-0.40 g 100 g-1), and high moisture content (96.2-96.6 g 100 g-1), and pectin content (0.39-0.47 mg 100 g-1). The fruits showing a better mechanical resistance come from AP533, IT761, HY37 and H9992 cultivars, which should be recommended for cultivation in order to reduce losses during harvest, bulk handling and transportation.