Volume 17(2), 130- 132, 2013

JOURNAL of Horticulture, Forestry and Biotechnology

www.journal-hfb.usab-tm.ro

Effect of Bioactive Substances on Titratable Acidity in

Greenhouse Cultivated Tomatoes
Toa Cristina Elena,1* Bla Maria1, Berar V.1 Moldovan Camelia1, Anghelache I.1
1

Banats Univesity of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Timisoara, Faculty of Horticulture and
Forestry
*Corresponding address: Email: cristina.tota@yahoo.com
Abstract
In this paper, we present trial results of laboratory analyses
concerning the titratable acidity of four tomato hybrids treated with seven
fertilisers. Fruit acidity is determined by the presence, in the fruit vacuoles, of
organic acids. The main organic acids identified in the tomato fruits are the
malic and the citric acids. This value is important in assessing the aroma and
it is related to the Brix value. Acidity is often expressed as acid degree
describing the taste.
The results were obtained according to well-established protocols and current
statistic calculus methods.
Producing tomatoes is an economic, foodrelated activity of great importance: it results in profits
particularly when performing cultivation technologies
are applied [1,3].
Besides their economic importance and
nutritious features, tomatoes also have a therapeutic
importance profitable mainly during the hot season
[1,3].
Fruit acidity is determined by the presence, in
the fruit vacuoles, of organic acids. The main organic
acids identified in the tomato fruits are the malic and
the citric acids.

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hybrid, tomato, greenhouse,

titratable acidity

Measuring titratable acidity

Equipment: 50 ml burette; 250 ml Erlenmeyer
glass (for the sample); 100 g scales with 0.01 g
precision for concentrated samples; 25 ml dripper or
graded cylinder; optional pH-meter; automatic
magnetic stirring apparatus; stirrer.
Reactants: phenolphthalein solution: 1%
solution in isopropyl alcohol 50% neutralised with
NaOH to pale pink (it dissolves with 1 g of
phenolphthalein powder) in 100 ml isopropyl alcohol
50%); solution of NaOH: depending the sample, 0.10.5 N.
Procedure: we set the measurement glass and
we add 10.00 g of well-stirred sample; we add about
100 ml distilled water and 1 ml (15-20 drops) of
phenolphthalein solution. We mix well (we can use a
magnetic stirring apparatus); to titrate, we use a
solution of NaOH of 0.3125 N until pale pink. The
colour should persist at least for 20 seconds, and the
sample should be stirred continually.
Calculus: Acidity is normally expressed as
percentage g/100 g, with the formula:

Material and Method

The trial was of the polyfactorial type and the
trial experiments were set after the randomised block
method with four replicates.
The plantlets were planted 150 cm between
the rows and 35 cm between the plantlets. Plant density
was 2.5 plants/m2, i.e. 25,000 plants/ha.
The fertilisers were applied every 20 days
after planting the plantlets.
Factor A (hybrid) had four graduations:
a1 Abellus F1 RZ;
a2 Birdie F1 RZ;
a3 Katerina F1 RZ;
a4 Petula F1 RZ.
Factor B (fertilising substance) had seven
graduations:
b1 Bioplasma 5 l/ha;
b2 Bionat 2 2.0 l/ha;
b3 Bionex 1.5 l/ha;
b4 Elstim 2.5 l/ha;
b5 Elrom 1.5 l/ha;
b6 Fosfertil 5.0 l/ha;
b7 Cropmax 1.5 l/ha.

Key words

mlNaOH N 6,4
g sample
-

%acid or g/100g

for 0.1 N NaOH and 10 g sample ml NaOH x 0.064 =

% acid;
for 0.3125 NaOH and 10 g sample ml NaOH x 0.20 =
% acid;
for 0.5 NaOH and 10 g sample ml NaOH x 0.32 =
percentage acid [2].

Results and Discussions

Acid content is usually expressed in citric acid
or other acids that contribute to this value and that are

known to be present (malic, oxalic). This value is

important in assessing the aroma and it is related to the

Brix value. Acidity is often expressed as acid degree

describing the taste.

Table 1
Titratable acidity determination (expressed as mg citric or malic acid / 100 g sample)
of tomato (hybrid Abellus F1)
V NaOH V NaOH corrected with
Titratable acidity
Titratable acidity
Fertiliser Variant (pH 7.00)
F=0.9375
(citric acid) (mg/100 g)
(malic acid) (mg/100 g)
(ml)
(ml)
Bioplasma
a 1b 1
1.18
1.106
442.8
309.0
Bionat 2
a 1b 2
1.26
1.181
472.5
329.8
Bionex
a 1b 3
1.36
1.275
508.4
354.8
Elstim
a 1b 4
1.34
1.256
471.6
329.1
Elrom
a 1b 5
1.2
1.125
450.0
314.1
Fosfertil
a 1b 6
1.26
1.181
470.2
328.1
Cropmax
a 1b 7
1.24
1.163
465.0
324.5
Average
463.9
323.8
SDa
12.1
8.4
a
SD standard deviation
According to trial results in Table 1, we can
treating with the fertiliser Bioplasma) and 508.4
see that, in the case of the tomato hybrid Abellus F1,
mg/100 g (after treating with the fertiliser Bionex).
the amount of citric acid varied between 442.8 (after
Table 2
Titratable acidity determination (expressed as mg citric or malic acid / 100 g sample)
of tomato (hybrid Birdie F1)
V NaOH
V NaOH corrected with Titratable acidity
Titratable acidity
Fertiliser Variant
(pH 7.00)
F=0.9375
(citric acid) (mg/100
(malic acid) (mg/100 g)
(ml)
(ml)
g)
Bioplasma
a2b1
1.38
1.294
516.2
360.3
Bionat 2
a2b2
1.5
1.406
561.5
391.9
Bionex
a2b3
1.38
1.294
517.2
361.0
Elstim
a2b4
1.48
1.388
554.0
386.6
Elrom
a2b5
1.3
1.219
486.0
339.2
Fosfertil
a2b6
1.32
1.238
493.5
344.4
Cropmax
a2b7
1.5
1.406
560.4
391.1
Average
511.2
356.7
SDa
37.3
26.0
a
SD standard deviation
After applying the seven fertilisers on the
Bionat 2, while the smallest amounts of citric and
tomato hybrid Birdie F1, the largest amounts of citric
malic acids were when treated with the product Elrom
and malic acid were when treated with the products
(Table 2).
Table 3
Titratable acidity determination (expressed as mg citric or malic acid / 100 g sample)
of tomato (hybrid Katerina F1)
V NaOH
V NaOH corrected with
Titratable acidity
Titratable acidity
Fertiliser Variant
(pH 7.00)
F=0.9375
(citric acid) (mg/100 (malic acid) (mg/100
(ml)
(ml)
g)
g)
Bioplasma
a3b1
1.26
1.181
472.2
329.6
Bionat 2
a3b2
1.32
1.238
464.8
324.4
Bionex
a3b3
1.34
1.256
502.2
350.5
Elstim
a3b4
1.18
1.106
416.3
290.5
Elrom
a3b5
1.38
1.294
550.9
384.5
Fosfertil
a3b6
1.2
1.125
449.5
313.7
Cropmax
a3b7
1.3
1.219
487.2
340.0
Average
472.2
329.6
SDa
70.1
49.0
a
SD standard deviation

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According to data presented in Table 3, we

can see that the highest value of the citric and malic
acids was after application of the fertiliser Elrom, i.e.

416.3-550.9 mg/100 g citric acid and 290.5-384.5

mg/100 g malic acid.

Table 4
Titratable acidity determination (expressed as mg citric or malic acid / 100 g sample)
of tomato (hybrid Petula F1)
V NaOH
V NaOH corrected with Titratable acidity
Titratable acidity
Fertiliser Variant
(pH 7.00)
F=0.9375
(citric acid) (mg/100 (malic acid) (mg/100
(ml)
(ml)
g)
g)
Bioplasma
a4b1
1.36
1.275
478.6
334.0
Bionat 2
a4b2
1.38
1.294
516.9
360.7
Bionex
a4b3
1.3
1.219
487.5
340.3
Elstim
a4b4
1.6
1.500
599.7
418.5
Elrom
a4b5
1.2
1.125
449.7
313.9
Fosfertil
a4b6
1.38
1.294
486.8
339.8
Cropmax
a4b7
1.14
1.069
401.7
280.3
Average
512.1
357.4
SDa
78.1
54.5
a
SD standard deviation
The largest amount of citric and malic acids in
determined in the tomato hybrid Birdie F1 (486-562 mg
the tomato hybrid Petula F1 was after treatment with
of citric acid/100 g), while in the other tomato hybrids
the fertiliser Elstim, while the lowest value was after
these values varied within much wider limits, i.e.
treatment with the fertiliser Cropmax (Table 4)
between 416 and 600 mg/100 g (Tables 1-4).

Conclusions

Bibliography

We can finally say that the results of

analysing titratable acidity of tomatoes are expressed in
mg of citric acid / 100 g fresh produce and in mg of
malic acid / 100 g of fresh produce.
In general, titratable acidity expressed as mg
of citric acid/100 g of fresh produce was 1.43 higher
than that expressed as mg of malic acid/100 g of fresh
produce; the values were relatively close in all the
tomato hybrids we studied, the highest ones being

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Ed. Ceres, Bucuresti.
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al calitii i depistarea falsurilor la produsele
alimentare, Editura Mirton, Timioara.
3.Posta
Gh.-2008,
Legumicultura,
Ed
Mirton,Timisoara.

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