Changes in antioxidant content of tomato fruits in response to cultivar and nutrient solution composition

J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jun 14;54(12):4319-25. doi: 10.1021/jf0602572.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cationic proportions (K/Ca/Mg) in the nutrient solution on fruit quality (quality attributes and antioxidant content) using a high-pigment, 'Lunarossa', tomato cultivar and a standard tomato cultivar ('Corfù') grown in soilless culture. Treatments were defined by a factorial combination of three nutrient solutions having different cationic proportions and two indeterminately growing round tomato cultivars. A high proportion of K in the nutrient solution increased the quality attributes (fruit dry matter, total soluble solids content) and the lycopene content of tomato fruit, whereas a high proportion of Ca improved tomato fruit yield and reduced the incidence of blossom-end rot (BER). The highest total antioxidant activity was observed in the treatment with a high proportion of Mg in the Lunarossa cultivar. The high-pigment hybrid has provided a higher antioxidant content (lycopene and alpha-tocopherol content) than the commercial hybrid, but it was more susceptible to BER and consequently less productive.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / analysis*
  • Calcium / administration & dosage
  • Carotenoids / analysis
  • Cations / administration & dosage
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Lycopene
  • Magnesium / administration & dosage
  • Minerals / analysis
  • Potassium / administration & dosage
  • Quality Control
  • Solanum lycopersicum / chemistry*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / growth & development*
  • Solutions
  • Species Specificity
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cations
  • Minerals
  • Solutions
  • Carotenoids
  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Lycopene
  • Calcium