Structural changes,chemical composition and antioxidant activity of cherry tomato fruits (cv. Micro‐Tom) stored under optimal and chilling conditions |
| |
Authors: | Perla Gómez M Ángeles Ferrer J Pablo Fernández‐Trujillo Antonio Calderón Francisco Artés Marcos Egea‐Cortines Julia Weiss |
| |
Affiliation: | Technical University of Cartagena, Institute of Plant Biotechnology, 30203 Cartagena, Spain |
| |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Cherry tomato fruits cv. Micro‐Tom, a model plant for tomato genetics, were analysed in order to determine the main structural and chemical changes under optimal and chilling storage conditions. The comparison of Micro‐Tom to standard tomato cultivars will give an insight into suitability of this dwarf cultivar as a model for studying the influence of low‐temperature conditions on tomato fruits. RESULTS: During chilling, fruit tissue was progressively destroyed due to the collapse of the deep layers of the pericarp. Chilling lowered the typical tomato kinetics of ripening in sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), organic acids (tartaric, malic, citric, ascorbic and succinic) and the antioxidants phenol and lycopene, while carotenoid synthesis seemed to be blocked. Glutathione level was elevated and the activity of ROS scavenging enzymes was altered. Essentially, Micro‐Tom fruits showed a quality evolution that was similar to that described for standard tomato cultivars. CONCLUSION: The cherry tomato cultivar Micro‐Tom could be used as a model for studying the influence of low temperature on biochemical and structural changes taking place during chilling injury conditions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry |
| |
Keywords: | Solanum lycopersicum L. cryo‐SEM chilling injury chemical composition antioxidant activity |
|
|