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Crop Research

Postharvest maturation with different fruit maturity stages improved seed germination and seedling vigor in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)


DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2026.CR-1106    | Article Id: CR-1106 | Page : 335-342
Citation :- Postharvest maturation with different fruit maturity stages improved seed germination and seedling vigor in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.). Crop Res. 61: 335-342
OLIVE JENINE FLORENTINO, RAYMUND JULIUS ROSALES, MICAH BENIZE GREGORIO-BALBAS, CHRISTIAN BUTCH ANDREW BALBAS, GLISTEN FAITH PASCUA AND AIRA LILAC PUNGTILAN rgrosales@mmsu.edu.ph
Address : Department of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, Mariano Marcos State University, City of Batac 2906, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Submitted Date : 25-03-2026
Accepted Date : 8-04-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Three fruit stages (with peel colors of green mature, break stage, and red (fully ripe)) as indicators of maturity were used and stored for 5, 10, and 15 days under ambient conditions  (temperature: 28 ± 2 °C; relative humidity: 60 ± 5%) to determine their impact on the germination and seedling vigor of the native tomato variety. Fruits of the native tomato that were not stored are used as a control. The fruits were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design in four replicates. Fully ripe fruits without postharvest maturation produced a higher standard germination. However, postharvest maturation of tomato fruits for 10 days was needed to improve germination of green mature and breaker stage fruit. Moreover, 5 days of postharvest maturation period of breaker stage and ripe fruits enhanced the germination index. Ten days of storage were required to stimulate a higher germination index in green mature fruits. Breaker stage maturity of tomato had the least mean germination time with or without postharvest maturation. With and without postharvest maturation for green mature and fully ripe fruits stimulated longer seedlings, whereas breaker stage fruits do not need storage. Vigorous seedlings were produced from green mature + 10 days, breaker stage + 5 days, and ripe + no storage. Thus, postharvest maturation offers a comparative advantage over no storage, which can avoid pest infestation and unpredictable weather conditions, which have an impact on seedling vigor. Benefits that can be offered by the postharvest maturation are higher germination, longer seedlings, and vigorous seedlings for all three fruit maturity stages.

Keywords

Fruit color fruit storage native tomato seed production vigorous seedling 

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