Antioxidant phytonutrients variation and antioxidant activity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L)

An experiment was conducted to study the phytonutrients contents having antioxidant activity in ten lines of tomato. Significant results (p<0.05) were observed among the tomato lines for the principal antioxidants, viz. total carotenoids, lycopene, Vitamin-C and phenolics. The content of ascorbic acid (vitamin-C), total carotenoid, lycopene and phenolics varied from 15.82–31.93 mg/100g, 4.92–7.66 mg/100g, 3.33–5.68 mg/100g and 20.32–31.21 mg/100g, respectively whereas antioxidant activity assay (DPPH and TEAC) yielded values from 39.40–56.73 μM TE100g¹ and 46.53–79.55 μM TEAC100g¹ of fresh sample, respectively. Significant variation (p<0.05) was also observed for pH and anhydrous citric acid (acidity). The pH varied from 3.70–4.46 and anhydrous citric acid (acidity) ranged from 0.267–0.560%. The total soluble solids varied from 2.500–5.433%. The maximum Vitamin-C content was recorded in TOMATO Hyb DET AVT-3 (31.93mg/100g) closely followed by TOMATO AVT DET-1 (28.92 mg/100g), whereas maximum total carotenoid content was recorded in TOMQTO AVT DET-3 (7.66 mg/100g) closely followed by TOMQTO AVT DET-8 (7.04mg/100g) and TOMQTO AVT DET-4 (6.96 mg/100g), respectively. Maximum lycopene content was estimated in TOMQTO AVT DET-8 (5.68 mg/100g) closely followed by TOMQTO AVT DET-3 (5.54 mg/100g) and TOMQTO AVT DET-4 (5.49 mg/100g). Maximum acidity and total soluble solids were recorded in TOMQTO AVT DET-5 (0.560%) and (5.433%), respectively.