FIELD: preparing of fresh tomatoes for storage and further usage in space feeding.
SUBSTANCE: method involves sequentially extracting biomass of Mortierella reticulata micromycet using non-polar extractant in above-critical state, water, alkali, water, acid, water, alkali, and water; joining first extract with solid residue for producing of preparation from biomass; sterilizing distilled water, paper wads, and smoking paper; preparing 0.02%-potassium permanganate solution, 0.5%-citric acid solution, and 0.01%-suspension of biomass preparation, said solutions and suspension being based on sterilized distilled water; inspecting milk ripening stage tomatoes; holding tomatoes in sweet water having temperature of 20-30 C during 10-20 min; washing tomatoes in running water having temperature of 20-30 C; separating stem from tomatoes and sequentially holding at room temperature in potassium permanganate solution, citric acid solution, and suspension of biomass preparation during 5 min in each solution and suspension; removing residual solutions and suspension from fruit surface using sterilized paper wads; applying continuous layer of glue to stem site and adjoining surface having area of 16-25 mm2; exposing each opposite side of each tomato to ultraviolet radiation during 30 min at radiation intensity of 2 W/m3; packaging each tomato fruit under aseptic conditions into sterilized smoking paper and laying in single layer into sterile polymer trays. Method allows shelf life of tomatoes to be increased to 45 days.
EFFECT: prolonged shelf life and provision for using fresh tomatoes in space feeding.
