Effects of tomato stalk waste–based growing media on postharvest quality and antioxidant capacity of tomato fruit during cold storage

Summary

Abstract Plant-waste-derived growing media have the potential to support circular soilless production; however, how raw and composted tomato stalk wastes affect the postharvest quality of tomato fruit remains insufficiently understood. In this study, raw tomato stalk waste (TSW) and tomato stalk waste composted for two months (PTSW) were compared with cocopeat and peat + perlite in the soilless cultivation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. ‘Bandita F1’). The 4 × 3 factorial experiment, comprising four growing media × three storage periods, was conducted in a completely randomized design with three independent crate replicates for each combination. The fruits were stored in modified-atmosphere packaging at 8 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity for 14 days. The effects of the growing