Tomatoes are low in calories, however, they provide the precious content of vitamins, minerals, organic acids, carbohydrates, and, especially, carotenoids (β-carotene and lycopene), as essential requirements for the normal functioning of the human body. The latest study aimed to quantify the various compounds that exhibit antioxidant activities in different tomato cultivars. Tomato landraces with the supreme content of individual chemicals and complex of varied traits can serve as genetic sources in breeding for obtaining the tomato genotypes with the highest content of carotenoids, ascorbic acid, phenols, dry matter, and soluble sugars. Comparative analysis of tomato cultivars showed that to obtain genetic material with an enhanced content of secondary metabolites, the following tomato cultivars are recommendable for the desired hybridization to make possible cross combinations, i.e., Black Jack, Shirley, Bosare blue, and Christmas Blueberry and can suggest more precisely for high carotenoids content. Tomato cultivars VS169-19 and Paul Robeson can benefit as sources of soluble sugars and antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid and polyphenols.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, carotenoids, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, soluble sugars
The presented study determined the accumulation of secondary metabolites in the tomato fruits, with promising genotypes identified and selected for further probe through a hybridization program. A significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive correlation between the β-carotene and lycopene content and between ascorbic acid and total phenolic content attained establishment.