Agronomic Performance and Nutraceutical Quality of a Tomato Germplasm Line Selected under Organic Production System

Organic tomato production is increasing worldwide, thus making necessary the development of varieties adapted to this farming system. It is now well known that the implementation of local tomato plant breeding programs for organic farming is required to increase the performance of varieties in this typology of cultivation regime. In this research, the agronomic performance, nutraceutical contents, and radical scavenging activity of a tomato germplasm line (OSTGL), selected under organically grown conditions, were evaluated for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) in comparison with the variety ‘Rio Grande’, frequently grown organically in Tunisia. Carotenoids, phenolics, vitamin C, and radical scavenging capacity were assayed spectrophotometrically, while tocopherols were analyzed by HPLC. All data were not affected by year-to-year variability. The OSTGL line showed significantly higher marketable yield, total phenol, flavonoid, vitamin C, α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol contents, along with radical scavenging activity. The OSTGL red-ripe berries also showed comparable values for average weight, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, firmness and coloration, as well as lycopene and β-carotene contents. This open pollinated tomato germplasm line demonstrated to be an effective sustainable variety for improving fruit yield, agronomic, and nutraceutical characteristics under an organic management system

Effect of the stage of maturity on the antioxidant content and antioxidant activity of high-pigment tomato cultivars grown in Italy

Lycopene has attracted much interest during the last few years because of its antioxidant activity against free radicals, suggesting protective roles in reducing the risk of several chronic diseases. Therefore, tomato cultivars, with increased lycopene content have been developed. However, a detailed assessment of their nutritional value remains scarce in literature. In this study, the effect of the stage of maturity on the antioxidant content and activity of six high-lycopene tomato cultivars (‘Lyco 1’, ‘Lyco 2’, ‘HLY 02’, ‘HLY 13’, ‘HLY 18’ and ‘Kalvert’) and one ordinary (‘Donald’) was determined. The pattern of change in lycopene and β-carotene was similar in all tomato cultivars, although quantitatively higher in high-lycopene tomatoes. In those cultivars, lycopene and β-carotene were respectively 1.68- to 3.7-fold and 2.11- to 2.48-fold higher during ripening compared to ‘Donald’. The lipophilic antioxidant activity was well correlated to the lycopene and β-carotene contents. The pattern of change in total phenolic, flavonoid and total vitamin C was cultivars dependent. At the red ripe stage, ‘HLY 13’ showed the highest total vitamin C and flavonoid contents. However, ‘HLY 02’ showed the highest total phenolic content. The hydrophilic antioxidant activity was only well correlated to the phenolic and flavonoid contents

Agronomic and quality traits of different snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus) breeding lines and hybrids grown in Tunisia

none6noneIlahy R, Tlili I, Siddiqui MW, Montefusco A, Hdider C, Lenucci MSIlahy, R; Tlili, I; Siddiqui, Mw; Montefusco, A; Hdider, C; Lenucci, M