Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya

Tree tomato (Cyphomandra betacea), is a nutrient-dense fruit but the physicochemical properties differ depending on the origin and cultivar. The study aimed at characterizing attributes impacting value addition and industrial adoption of tree tomato fruits varieties in Kenya. The red and yellow tree...

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Main Authors: Isaac M. Maitha, Michael W. Okoth, Lucy G. Njue, Duncan O. Mbuge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Food & Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2464226
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author Isaac M. Maitha
Michael W. Okoth
Lucy G. Njue
Duncan O. Mbuge
author_facet Isaac M. Maitha
Michael W. Okoth
Lucy G. Njue
Duncan O. Mbuge
author_sort Isaac M. Maitha
collection DOAJ
description Tree tomato (Cyphomandra betacea), is a nutrient-dense fruit but the physicochemical properties differ depending on the origin and cultivar. The study aimed at characterizing attributes impacting value addition and industrial adoption of tree tomato fruits varieties in Kenya. The red and yellow tree tomato fruit varieties were procured from Marigiti market in Nairobi, Kenya which is the main aggregation center and samples were randomly selected for characterization. Subjective color assessment was used to sort the fruits before randomly selecting samples for physicochemical characterization. The fruits had uniform, consistent geometric features which make them suitable for high-speed automated processes, suitable for selecting preparative unit operations to yield good quality end products. The color properties contribute to better understanding of the colorimetric aspects of tree tomatoes, which are important in selecting the best varieties of known processing performance, and best fruit pretreatments to help retain the natural color, value and quality of end products. The Chemical characterization results are important in designing and controlling the process to get high quality, nutritious and functional end products. The Kenyan red, compared to the yellow tree tomato had more promising functional properties, hence highly recommended as a valuable raw material for innovative food products.
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spelling doaj-art-766cc1f4be2d4cfd9bdd9fed3b612b692025-08-20T01:56:56ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322025-12-0111110.1080/23311932.2025.2464226Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in KenyaIsaac M. Maitha0Michael W. Okoth1Lucy G. Njue2Duncan O. Mbuge3Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, KenyaTree tomato (Cyphomandra betacea), is a nutrient-dense fruit but the physicochemical properties differ depending on the origin and cultivar. The study aimed at characterizing attributes impacting value addition and industrial adoption of tree tomato fruits varieties in Kenya. The red and yellow tree tomato fruit varieties were procured from Marigiti market in Nairobi, Kenya which is the main aggregation center and samples were randomly selected for characterization. Subjective color assessment was used to sort the fruits before randomly selecting samples for physicochemical characterization. The fruits had uniform, consistent geometric features which make them suitable for high-speed automated processes, suitable for selecting preparative unit operations to yield good quality end products. The color properties contribute to better understanding of the colorimetric aspects of tree tomatoes, which are important in selecting the best varieties of known processing performance, and best fruit pretreatments to help retain the natural color, value and quality of end products. The Chemical characterization results are important in designing and controlling the process to get high quality, nutritious and functional end products. The Kenyan red, compared to the yellow tree tomato had more promising functional properties, hence highly recommended as a valuable raw material for innovative food products.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2464226Tree tomatocharacterizationcultivarsfruitsfunctional attributesFood Chemistry
spellingShingle Isaac M. Maitha
Michael W. Okoth
Lucy G. Njue
Duncan O. Mbuge
Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
Cogent Food & Agriculture
Tree tomato
characterization
cultivars
fruits
functional attributes
Food Chemistry
title Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
title_full Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
title_fullStr Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
title_short Characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in Kenya
title_sort characterization of the attributes impacting industrial adoption of tree tomato fruit varieties in kenya
topic Tree tomato
characterization
cultivars
fruits
functional attributes
Food Chemistry
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311932.2025.2464226
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AT michaelwokoth characterizationoftheattributesimpactingindustrialadoptionoftreetomatofruitvarietiesinkenya
AT lucygnjue characterizationoftheattributesimpactingindustrialadoptionoftreetomatofruitvarietiesinkenya
AT duncanombuge characterizationoftheattributesimpactingindustrialadoptionoftreetomatofruitvarietiesinkenya