Agromorphological variation and postharvest biophysical changes in fruits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Agromorphological phenotypic variation and postharvest biophysical changes in fruits after 10 days of storage at room temperature were evaluated in a collection of tomatoes from Oaxaca, Mexico. The collection of 57 accessions were planted and characterized under greenhouse. During postharvest the pH, degrees Brix (degrees Brix), weight loss and color parameters (L*, a*, b*, chromaticity and Hue angle) were evaluated at 0 and 10 days after harvest. The accession showed significant differences (P < 0.01) over all agromorphological traits, and there were differences among genepools classified a priori as cultivated, ruderal, and intermediate populations between cultivated and ruderal. Nine groups of phenotypic diversity were determined. The storage times (0 and 10 days) presented significant differences at all biophysical traits. After 10 days of storage at room temperature (20.6 +/- 5 degrees C and 34 +/- 10% RH) the degrees Brix increased from 4.1 to 4.6 and similarly pH from 3.7 to 4.3. Among phenotypic groups and interaction storage times-groups, significant differences were found for degrees Brix, color coordinates L* and b*, and Hue angle. The differential postharvest changes indicate phenotypic divergences among and within genepools, which can be exploited in the plant breeding programs with regional objectives.