Processing Adaptability of Determinate Type Tomato Varieties

Part V. Fruit ages and varieties as related to thecarotenoids and chlorophyll in tomato fruits

Abstract

Lycopene, carotene, and xanthophyll contents of seven determinate type varieties and one indeterminate type variety were determined at the various matured stages of 40-70 days after flowering. Chlorophyll disappeared mostly on 55 days after flowering and compretely after 60 days. Lycopene did not appear on 40 days but appeared with 4-7mg% after 50 days, 7-12mg% after 60-70 days. Xanthophyll contents increased rapidly during 50 days and β-carotene contents increased also until about 55 days. The readings of color different meter, a/b of the juice, were over 1.6 in almost varieties on 50 days and 2.0 on 60 days. Comparatively high contents of the lycopene in all varieties were observed in the range from 7 to 11mg% at 60 days. Lycopene contents of Tohoku No.6, early matured variety, increased rapidly during 50 days but that of Taiho increased rapidly during the 60 days after flowering. It was suggested that the optimum harvest time of tomato fruits for processing is during the term of 55-60 days after flowering.