Abstract
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Travis Killion, for the Master of Science degree in Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, presented on April 4, 2014, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: LYCOPENE AND ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF FRESH TOMATOES BASED ON GENOTYPE, MATURITY STAGE AND COLD STORAGE INTERVAL MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. S. Alan Walters Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables and provide a major source of antioxidants to human diets around the world. Since this vegetable is consumed in such high quantities, the nutritional qualities of the tomato fruit were determined based on the tomato's genetic makeup, the stage at which it was harvested, and length of time in cold storage. Therefore, field and storage studies were conducted during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons at the SIUC Horticulture Research Center in Carbondale. Three field experiments were conducted to determine ascorbic acid (AA, also commonly known as vitamin C) and lycopene content of fresh tomato fruit based on cultivar, harvest stage and time in cold storage. The first experiment evaluated 20 tomato cultivars, while `Rocky Top' tomato was grown using standard production practices and harvested at different stages (mature-green, breaker, turning, pink, light red, and red) to determine the effect of harvest stage on the resulting lycopene and AA content of a red-ripe fruit. Harvested fruit were stored at room temperature (21º C) until they had developed to the red ripe stage and were then immediately evaluated. The effects of short-term cold storage on the lycopene and AA content of red-ripe harvested `Rocky Top' tomato fruit were also determined; tomatoes were placed in cooler at 4º C, with samples retrieved at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Results indicated that cultivars differed (P ≤ 0.05), with smaller-sized tomatoes having ii higher AA content than larger-sized cultivars. The AA content ranged from 13.4 to 29.8 mg per 100 g of tomato fruit, with higher amounts being observed in the smaller tomato varieties (`Red Currant' and `Sugar Plum'). Lycopene analysis indicated that there were also significant differences amongst cultivars, and the analyses indicated differences between the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. Higher lycopene content was found in the red varieties, with lower amounts found in lighter colored tomatoes, especially those that were orange colored. In 2012, lycopene content ranged from 4.80 to 100.39 μg/g in tomato fruit, while in 2013, values ranged from 41.4 to 83.7 μg/g. The short-term cold storage evaluation determined that both AA and lycopene concentration decreased over time. For AA and lycopene, a 43% and 24% loss occurred in `Rocky Top' tomato fruit, respectively, after 4 weeks in cold storage. For the tomato stage of maturity experiment, tomatoes harvested at the red-ripe stage had the greatest AA concentrations (0.187 mg/g), with a gradual decline occurring based on the ripeness of the fruit when it was harvested. Fruit that were harvested at a more ripe stage had greater AA concentrations compared to those harvested at lesser ripened stages, with red ripe tomatoes that developed from fruit harvested at the green maturity stage having the least AA content (0.116 mg/g). Similar to AA, lycopene concentrations were higher in tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stage and steadily declined in tomatoes harvested at earlier stages of development, with lowest values observed in red-ripe fruit that developed from mature green tomatoes. Based on the results from this study, tomatoes vary significantly among cultivars, harvest stage, and time in cold storage for both AA and lycopene content. Marketing tomatoes based on antioxidant content has not been widely utilized, but may help local growers explore a different approach to selling tomatoes and to increase profits and customer bases.
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Claims 17
Claim · model-written summary
Smaller-sized tomato cultivars had higher AA content than larger-sized cultivars
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Outcome
- AA contente1
- Direction
- highere1
- Comparator
- larger-sized cultivarse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“with smaller-sized tomatoes having ii higher AA content than larger-sized cultivars”
Claim · model-written summary
AA content of tomato fruit ranged from 13.4 to 29.8 mg per 100 g across cultivars
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Organ / stage
- tomato fruite2
- Outcome
- AA contente2
- Value
- 13.4 to 29.8 mg per 100 ge2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e2“The AA content ranged from 13.4 to 29.8 mg per 100 g of tomato fruit”
Claim · model-written summary
Red tomato varieties had higher lycopene content than lighter colored tomatoes
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Material
- red varietiese3
- Outcome
- lycopene contente3
- Direction
- Highere3
- Comparator
- lighter colored tomatoese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e3“Higher lycopene content was found in the red varieties, with lower amounts found in lighter colored tomatoes”
Claim · model-written summary
Lighter colored tomatoes had lower lycopene content than red varieties
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Material
- lighter colored tomatoese3
- Outcome
- lycopene contente3
- Direction
- lowere3
- Comparator
- red varietiese3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e3“Higher lycopene content was found in the red varieties, with lower amounts found in lighter colored tomatoes”
Claim · model-written summary
Lycopene content differed significantly among tomato cultivars
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Outcome
- Lycopenee4
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e4“Lycopene analysis indicated that there were also significant differences amongst cultivars”
Claim · model-written summary
Lycopene content differed between the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Outcome
- Lycopenee5
- Setting
- 2012 and 2013 growing seasonse5
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e5“Lycopene analysis indicated that there were also significant differences amongst cultivars, and the analyses indicated differences between the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2012, lycopene content of tomato fruit ranged from 4.80 to 100.39 μg/g
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Organ / stage
- tomato fruite6
- Outcome
- lycopene contente6
- Value
- 4.80 to 100.39 μg/ge6
- Setting
- 2012e6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e6“In 2012, lycopene content ranged from 4.80 to 100.39 μg/g in tomato fruit”
Claim · model-written summary
In 2013, lycopene content of tomato fruit ranged from 41.4 to 83.7 μg/g
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Outcome
- lycopene contente6
- Value
- 41.4 to 83.7 μg/ge7
- Setting
- 2013e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e6“In 2012, lycopene content ranged from 4.80 to 100.39 μg/g in tomato fruit”
e7“in 2013, values ranged from 41.4 to 83.7 μg/g”
Claim · model-written summary
Short-term cold storage decreased both AA and lycopene concentration over time
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- short-term cold storagee1
- Outcome
- AA and lycopene concentratione1
- Direction
- decreasede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“The short-term cold storage evaluation determined that both AA and lycopene concentration decreased over time”
Claim · model-written summary
After 4 weeks of cold storage, AA content of Rocky Top tomato fruit lost 43%
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- cold storagee1
- Outcome
- AAe2
- Direction
- decreaseinferrede2
- Value
- 43%e2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“after 4 weeks in cold storage”
e2“For AA and lycopene, a 43% and 24% loss occurred”
Claim · model-written summary
After 4 weeks of cold storage, lycopene content of Rocky Top tomato fruit lost 24%
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- cold storagee1
- Outcome
- lycopenee2
- Direction
- decreaseinferrede2
- Value
- 24%e2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“after 4 weeks in cold storage”
e2“For AA and lycopene, a 43% and 24% loss occurred”
Claim · model-written summary
Tomatoes harvested at the red-ripe stage had the greatest AA concentration (0.187 mg/g)
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- harvested at the red-ripe stagee1
- Outcome
- AA concentrationse1
- Direction
- greateste1
- Value
- 0.187 mg/ge1
- Comparator
- those harvested at lesser ripened stagese2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“tomatoes harvested at the red-ripe stage had the greatest AA concentrations (0.187 mg/g)”
e2“Fruit that were harvested at a more ripe stage had greater AA concentrations compared to those harvested at lesser ripened stages”
Claim · model-written summary
AA concentration declined gradually with earlier harvest ripeness
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- ripeness of the fruit when it was harvestede2
- Outcome
- AA concentrationse1
- Direction
- declinee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“tomatoes harvested at the red-ripe stage had the greatest AA concentrations (0.187 mg/g)”
e2“a gradual decline occurring based on the ripeness of the fruit when it was harvested”
Claim · model-written summary
Red-ripe fruit developed from green-harvested fruit had the least AA content (0.116 mg/g)
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- fruit harvested at the green maturity stagee1
- Outcome
- AA contente1
- Direction
- leaste1
- Value
- 0.116 mg/ge1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“red ripe tomatoes that developed from fruit harvested at the green maturity stage having the least AA content (0.116 mg/g)”
Claim · model-written summary
Lycopene concentrations were higher in tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stage
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stagee1
- Outcome
- lycopene concentrationse1
- Direction
- highere1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“Similar to AA, lycopene concentrations were higher in tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stage and steadily declined in tomatoes harvested at earlier stages of development”
Claim · model-written summary
Lycopene concentrations steadily declined in tomatoes harvested at earlier stages
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- tomatoes harvested at earlier stagese1
- Outcome
- lycopene concentrationse1
- Direction
- declinede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“Similar to AA, lycopene concentrations were higher in tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stage and steadily declined in tomatoes harvested at earlier stages of development”
Claim · model-written summary
Red-ripe fruit developed from mature green tomatoes had the lowest lycopene values
- Taxon
- tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicumt0 - Treatment
- fruit that developed from mature green tomatoese2
- Outcome
- lycopene concentrationse1
- Direction
- loweste2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
t0“fresh tomatoes”
e1“Similar to AA, lycopene concentrations were higher in tomatoes harvested closer to the red-ripe stage and steadily declined in tomatoes harvested at earlier stages of development”
e2“with lowest values observed in red-ripe fruit that developed from mature green tomatoes”
The same questions in other papers
cold · quality: phytochemicals · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Positive and negative results
6 papers in the same direction as this paper · 11 in the opposite direction
- positive
- positive
- positive
14 papers more in this group
See all 18 papers →harvest time · molecular: metabolites · Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)Results agree
1 paper in the same direction as this paper
- no effect
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.