Dynamics of micronutrients of fresh and stale tomatoes (lycopersicum esculentum) sold within Umuahia metropolis in Nigeria as a function of handling practices

Abstract

Tomatoes are soft tissue perishable fruits high susceptible to bruises during loading, transportation, unloading, and retailing which lead to their deterioration and nutrient losses. This study explored the micronutrient changes in the fresh (whole) and stale (nkuwa) tomatoes during loading, transportation, unloading, distribution and retail sales in the three major retail market outlets in Umuahia metropolis with standard methods of analyses. The results of micronutrients (pro-vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, sodium and iron) evaluated revealed significant (p < 0.05) decrease for the entire stale tomato samples compared to their whole counterparts. With increase in distance from the landing bay, pro-vitamin A (β carotene) (598.36–579.64 µg/100 g), B1 (0.07–0.04 mg/100 g), B2 (0.05–0.03 mg/100 g), B3 (0.97–0.87 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (20.14–19.29 mg/100 g) decreased. Also the minerals (mg/100 g), calcium (16.15–15.77), potassium (409.71–409.62), magnesium (19.45–18.73), sodium (8.77–8.74), iron (0.42–0/35) and zinc (0.33–0.29) decreased. Micronutrient losses increased with increase in handling practices from the landing bay till it gets to the end users. Long-distance tomato transportation should be on smooth roads in the night inside rigid plastic crates to reduce bruises.

Keywords:

• Micronutrients
• fresh tomatoes
• stale tomatoes
• handling practices
• Umuahia metropolis

Acknowledgement

In the absence of any external grant, the authors acknowledged Food Science and Technology Department of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike for the provision of space and reagents used.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Declaration of interest

There is no conflict of interest

Authors’ contribution

I.N. Okwunodulu: Conceived and drafted the original manuscript. S.C. Ozioko: Prepared the samples and analysis. F. U. Okwunodulu: Data collation and analysis. V.C. Ezeocha: Review and editing.

Submission declaration

All the authors approved the submission and declared that the said manuscript has not been previously published or under consideration elsewhere. I pledge on behalf of other co-authors that if the manuscript is accepted, we will not be published it anywhere in English or any other language or electronically in same form without the permission of the copyright holder.