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

Figures & data

Plate 3: Isigate fresh tomatoes.

Plate 4: Isigate nkuwa tomatoes.

Plate 5: Orie-ogba fresh tomatoes.

Plate 6: Orie-ugba nkuwa tomatoes.

Table 1. Handling effects on the vitamin content of whole and stale tomato samples

Samples	Pro-vit A (µg/100 g)	Vitamin B1 (mg/100 g)	Vitamin B2 (mg/100 g)	Vitamin B3 (mg/100 g)	Vitamin C (mg/100 g)
WU	640.44^f ± 0.02	0.11^a ± 0.01	0.08^c ± 0.01	1.22^d ± 0.02	25.92^a ± 0.01
NU	598.36^c ± 0.04	0.07^ab ±0.01	0.05^ab± 0.01	0.97^b ± 0.01	20.14^c ± 0.01
WI	632.24^e ± 0.02	0.08^b ± 0.01	0.07^ab ±0.02	1.16^c ± 0.02	25.80^b ± 0.01
NI	586.64^b ± 0.02	0.05^c ± 0.01	0.04^a ± 0.01	0.91^a ± 0.01	19.35^d ± 0.01
WO	627.06^d ± 3.56	0.07^ab ±0.01	0.07^ab ±0.02	1.12^c ± 0.02	25.81^b ± 0.01
NO	579.64^a ± 0.02	0.04^d ± 0.01	0.03^a ± 0.00	0.89^a ±0.02	19.29^e ± 0.01

Plate 1: Ubani fresh tomatoes.

Plate 2: Ubani nkuwa tomatoes.

Table 2. Handling effect on the mineral content of whole and stale tomato samples (mg/100 g)

Samples	Calcium	Magnesium	Potassium	Zinc	Sodium	Iron
WU	17.76^a ± 0.02	20.27^a ± 0.02	411.68^a ± 0.02	0.48^a ± 0.02	8.98^a ± 0.03	0.61^a ± 0.02
NU	16.15^c ± 0.04	19.45^c ± 0.02	409.71^d ± 0.01	0.33^b ± 0.01	8.77^d ± 0.02	0.42^d ± 0.01
WI	17.61^b ± 0.02	20.12^a ± 0.02	411.52^b ± 0.01	0.46^a ± 0.02	8.92^b ± 0.12	0.56^b ± 0.02
NI	15.83^d ± 0.02	18.75^d ± 0.01	409.64^e ± 0.02	0.30^b ± 0.01	8.74^e ± 0.03	0.37^e ± 0.02
WO	17.65^b ± 0.02	20.10^b ± 0.01	411.50^c ± 0.01	0.44^a ± 0.01	8.90^c ± 0.03	0.49^c ± 0.01
NO	15.77^d ± 0.02	18.73^d ± 0.01	409.62^e ± 0.02	0.29^b ± 0.01	8.75^e ± 0.02	0.35^e ± 0.02

Values are means of triplicate determinations ± standard deviation. Mean values in the same column with different superscript are significantly different (p < 0.05). WU-whole tomatoes from Ubani, NU-nkuwa tomatoes from Ubani, WI-whole tomatoes from Isigate, NI-nkuwa tomatoes from Isigate, WO- whole tomatoes from Orie-ugba and NO- nkuwa tomatoes from Orie-Ugha.

Table 3. Correlation of vitamin C with calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron

		Calcium	Magnesium	Zinc	Iron	Vit C
Calcium	Pearson Correlation
	Sig. (2-tailed)
	N
Magnesium	Pearson Correlation	.969**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	.001
	N	6
Zinc	Pearson Correlation	.993**	.971**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	.000	.001
	N	6	6
Iron	Pearson Correlation	.937**	.943**	.972**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	.006	.005	.001
	N	6	6	6
Vit C	Pearson Correlation	.998**	.955**	.988**	.924**
	Sig. (2-tailed)	.000	.003	.000	.008
	N	6	6	6	6

Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).