Abstract
(1) Background: We assessed the impact of high tunnel coverings and harvest maturity (breaker and light red) on antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, β–carotene, and phenolic compound (flavonoid and phenolic acid) accumulation in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) 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 (p < 0.05); similarly, AsA accumulation increased under the standard and clear coverings, relative to the movable and shade coverings (p < 0.001). Postharvest, at the point of consumption (POC), rutin increased in fruit harvested at light red stage versus breaker stage (p < 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 (p < 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.
Highlights
Tomato is the most common warm-season crop grown in high tunnels in the US [1]
The results of this study show that high tunnel covering and maturity stage significantly affect antioxidant capacity, as determined by ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), ascorbic acid (AsA), lycopene, and phenolic compounds in tomato fruit
The phenolic compounds included three flavonols and two phenolic acids that were quantified from tomatoes at breaker, light red, and mature red stages
Summary
Tomato is the most common warm-season crop grown in high tunnels in the US [1]. The high tunnel system allows a grower the opportunity to select particular polyethylene (poly) and/or shade cloth coverings to maximize yield and other quality parameters that are important to their market [2,3].Shade cloth is often added to reduce the effect of high temperatures and of direct sunlight (tomato fruits are prone to sunburn) [4]. Tomato is the most common warm-season crop grown in high tunnels in the US [1]. The high tunnel system allows a grower the opportunity to select particular polyethylene (poly) and/or shade cloth coverings to maximize yield and other quality parameters that are important to their market [2,3]. Shade cloth is often added to reduce the effect of high temperatures and of direct sunlight (tomato fruits are prone to sunburn) [4]. Several reports have suggested that high tunnel production may increase tomato fruit biomass, it may decrease antioxidant content [5,6]. Tomato fruit are a source of heath promoting antioxidants like carotenoids, ascorbic acid (AsA) and phenolic compounds [7,8,9].
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