EFFECT OF TOMATO DECAY PROPORTION ON ERGOSTEROL LEVEL AND SOME TOMATO PULP PROPERTIES

There is a need to develop a chemical method to determine the amount of decayed tomatoes used to produce tomato products. Tomato pulp samples produced from surface decayed tomatoes as sound, 30, 60 and 100% were tested for pH, brix, titrable acidity, Hunter L, a and b, Howard Mold Count (HMC) and ergosterol values. Tomato pomace for each decay portion was tested for HMC and ergosterol. Ergosterol analysis was carried out by high‐pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Decay proportion was linearly correlated with HMC (r = 0.97) and ergosterol (r = 0.96) in pulp samples but not to pH and acidity. Only ergosterol measurement was applicable in tomato pomace and correlated well (r = 0.95) with the decay proportions. In general, the color values of the samples produced from 100% decayed tomatoes were high compared with the others. The measurement of ergosterol has the potential to be used for the quality assessment of tomato products made from Red Top tomatoes.     

EFFECT OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL ON WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMIN CONTENT OF APPLE JUICE

The effect of activated charcoals (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 g/L of powdered and granular activated charcoals) on the content of several water-soluble vitamins in apple juice was studied. Apple juice samples with activated carbon added were mixed for 0 (control), 5, 10, 20, and 30 min, respectively. The content of water-soluble vitamins was analyzed by HPLC. Considerable reduction in ascorbic acid (Vit C), niacin, pyridoxine (Vitamin B₆), thiamine (Vitamin B₁) and biotin concentrations was found while there was a dramatic improvement in the color and clearness of apple juice. The highest decrement in water-soluble vitamins was obtained at 3.0 g/L powdered activated charcoal. Statistical analysis of the data showed highly significant differences (P |< 0.05, P < 0.01) in the water soluble vitamins, color and clearness of the apple juice samples between the dosages of activated charcoals but no significant differences induced by the mixing periods.