Effect of High Tunnel Coverings on Antioxidants of Breaker and Light Red Tomatoes at Harvest and during Ripening

(1) Background: We assessed the impact of high tunnel coverings and harvest maturity (breaker and light red) on antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, <i>β</i>–carotene, and phenolic compound (flavonoid and phenolic acid) accumulation in tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelly M. Gude, Channa B. Rajashekar, Brianna Cunningham, Qing Kang, Weiqun Wang, Myungjin Lee, Cary L. Rivard, Eleni D. Pliakoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/11/1639
Description
Summary:(1) Background: We assessed the impact of high tunnel coverings and harvest maturity (breaker and light red) on antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, <i>β</i>–carotene, and phenolic compound (flavonoid and phenolic acid) accumulation in tomatoes (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i>) at harvest and postharvest. (2) Methods: The two-year study in Olathe, KS, included six different coverings: a standard polyethylene (standard poly), diffuse poly (diffuse), clear poly (clear), UV-A/UV-B blocking poly (block), 55% shade cloth + standard poly (shade), and removal of standard poly two weeks prior to harvest (movable). (3) Results: Antioxidant capacity increased in fruit grown under the clear covering, compared to the shade covering (<i>p</i> < 0.05); similarly, AsA accumulation increased under the standard and clear coverings, relative to the movable and shade coverings (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Postharvest, at the point of consumption (POC), rutin increased in fruit harvested at light red stage versus breaker stage (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and chlorogenic acid increased in light red harvested fruit by 60% under movable, 55% under shade, and 43% under block covering than breaker harvested fruit (<i>p</i> < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, we conclude that both high tunnel covering and postharvest maturation alter antioxidant capacity, AsA, lycopene, and phenolic compound accumulation profiles by the POC.
ISSN:2073-4395