Effects of Melatonin on the Quality and Storability of Cherry Tomatoes After Harvest

In order to study the effects of melatonin treatment on the quality and storability of cherry tomato fruits after harvest, the fruits of Yunv cherry tomato were selected and soaked with 0.05 mmol·L^-1 melatonin and the distilled water (the control group) for 20 min, respectively. Then, after being taken out and dried, they were packaged and stored at (25±1)℃ and 85% relative humidity for 18 d. During the storage period, the samples were taken every 3 days to determine the quality and storability of fruits. The results showed that compared with the control cherry tomato fruit, the melatonin treatment could reduce the respiration rate, shrinkage index and weight loss rate of the fruit, and increase the commodity rate. In addition, the melatonin treatment could also increase the L^* value and hue angle h value of fruit peel, and maintain the contents of soluble solids, vitamin C, total soluble sugar and titratable acid in fruit flesh. Therefore, the melatonin treatment could improve the peel appearance color and flesh quality of cherry tomato fruit after harvest, and improve the storability of fruit after harvest.