Jiyin Shen^1,2

1 Hangzhou Youyichun Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.,Hangzhou, 311115, Zhejiang, China
2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 5   
Received: 30 Aug., 2026    Accepted: 25 Sep., 2026    Published: 30 Sep., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cherry tomatoes exhibit diverse fruit colors, and different color types vary markedly in pigment composition, sugar–acid balance, nutritional components, and flavor characteristics, which in turn influence postharvest changes in weight loss, softening, fruit color, and functional compounds. This review focuses on red, yellow/orange, mature-green, and brown/black/purple-black cherry tomatoes, summarizing their basic quality traits and postharvest changes, and analyzing the effects of harvest maturity, maturity assessment, temperature, packaging, and transport distance on marketable quality. Major preservation technologies, including precooling and cold-chain management, LED light regulation, and natural edible coatings, are also reviewed. On this basis, differentiated management strategies are proposed. Red types should be managed primarily to prevent over-ripening and softening; yellow/orange types require greater attention to maintaining characteristic color and flavor; mature-green types need independent maturity assessment standards; and dark-colored types require simultaneous protection of distinctive pigmentation, texture, and functional quality. For mixed-color marketing, compatibility in shelf life among cultivars should also be considered. Future research should establish color-specific maturity evaluation systems, develop low-cost and easy-to-operate postharvest technologies, and strengthen integrated assessments of flavor, nutrition, marketability, cost, and consumer acceptance under real supply-chain conditions. These efforts will provide practical support for precise postharvest management and commercial utilization of differently colored cherry tomatoes.

Cherry tomato; Fruit color; Postharvest quality; Maturity; Preservation technology; Differentiated management; Supply chain