There was an initial increase in reducing sugar content in all
coated and uncoated tomatoes followed by a drop. Steep decrease
was noticed in control followed by S/G coated tomatoes. Tomatoes
coated with S/G/L and S/G/L/A showed considerably less decrease in
reducing sugar content indicating the potential oxygen barrier and
gas barrier properties of S/G/L and S/G/L/A coatings (Fig. 3e).
During ripening of tomatoes, starch is degraded to glucose and fructose,
which further acts as substrates for the respiration in the tomatoes.
Hence during rapid ripening and respiration period of the tomato, it
is inevitable that the reducing sugar content would decrease
(Tasdelen & Bayindirli, 1998).