EVALUATION OF THE LYCOPENE CONTENT IN PROCESSING TOMATO CULTIVARS CLAIMING "HIGH PIGMENT CONTENT"

The results of quality evaluation on commercial tomato lines (7 cultivars) claiming high pigment content. The cultivars were comparatively evaluated for their processing suitability into typical tomato products (e.g. puree and paste) on the basis of the following criteria: evaluation of the agronomical characteristics of the plant; sanitary, morphological, physico-chemical characteristics of the fruits; determination of qualitative-colour characteristics (Gardner parameters and Lycopene content) on raw material ; processing yields on a pilot-scale processing plant (Soluble solids content 8-9°Bx) and finally quality characteristics of the processed product (tomato puree).
As regards to agricultural data, none of the cultivar tested can be compared to Perfectpeel, while, on the basis of quality characteristics of raw material, “high pigment” content is verified only in PS 1617 (despite of poor °Brix value), DR 10747 and TO0426 lines.
Finally, no significant variations on colour and lycopene content were found during processing into tomato puree (the reduction of carotenoids is less than 10%) and summarized results showed that the best cultivars of the trial were (in the order) PS1617, DR10747 and TO0426.