*3.2. Cherry Tomato Quality Variables*

On the average of the other factors, 'Ottymo' and 'Sugarland' proved the highest reducing sugars content (581 g kg−<sup>1</sup> DW, on average), whereas the former cultivar proved the lowest pH; differently, 'Sugarland' minimized the SSC/TA ratio (Table 4). Both reducing sugars content and SSC/TA declined passing from S<sup>0</sup> to S<sup>14</sup> (by 14 and 4%, respectively). For the former variable, the strongest reduction along the storage period was noticed in 'Ottymo' and 'Sugarland' (−19%, on average) (Figure 1C), whereas for SSC/TA the only significant reduction within the S0–S<sup>14</sup> period was found in 'Ottymo' (−17%) (Figure 1D).


**Table 4.** Compositional variables related to fruit taste of cherry tomato as affected by the main factors.

Different letters among factor means indicate significance at Tukey's HSD test (*p* ≤ 0.05). Interaction values (*p* = 0.05) related to 'storage temperature × genotype' and 'storage temperature × storage time' are reported. NS: not significant.

#### *3.3. Chromatic Variables*

Among the chromatic variables, Chroma and ∆*E*\*ab showed a similar response to storage temperature, as they were both increased at T<sup>10</sup> (by 4% and 27%, respectively) (Table 5). For Chroma, the increase under cold storage was particularly evident passing from S<sup>7</sup> (24.1) to S<sup>14</sup> (26.0, +8%) (Table 5). Among the studied genotypes, 'Eletta' showed the highest (*a*\*/*b*\*)<sup>2</sup> and Chroma (0.81 and 26.4, respectively) and the lowest ∆*E*\*ab (1.43), whereas the lowest TCI was found in 'Sugarland' (31.3) (Table 5). All the chromatic variables significantly increased between S<sup>7</sup> and S14, but for ∆*E*\*ab such temporal rise was more prominent in 'Ottymo' (by 61%) (Figure 1E).

**Table 5.** Chromatic variables of the epicarp of cherry tomato as affected by the main factors.


Different letters among factor means indicate significance at Tukey's HSD test (*p* ≤ 0.05). Interaction values (*p* = 0.05) related to 'storage temperature × genotype' and 'storage temperature × storage time' are reported. NS: not significant; -: no data.
