The quality changes of cherry and plum tomatoes dried at different temperatures (60, 65 and 70°C) milled into powder and stored for 8 weeks were assessed in this study. The ascorbic acid and lycopene content of the tomato powders were significantly different with values that ranged from 5.10 to 7.70 mg/100 g and 211.53 to 246.02 mg/kg, respectively. Color parameters redness (a*) and chroma decreased, while lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), and hue increased as the drying temperature increased. In addition, increase was observed in the total fungal load and lightness of the two tomato varieties at all temperatures, while the titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, lycopene, redness, and yellowness increased as the storage period increased to 8 weeks. The 60°C dried plum tomato powder had the best result in terms of quality retention at the end of the storage period. Some quality parameters increased and decreased with drying and storage of plum and cherry tomato powders.
Keywords: ascorbic acid; color; drying; lycopene; tomato.