Lycopene Concentration of Tomato Fruit can be Estimated from Chromaticity Values

Abstract

Chromaticity values (L*, a*, b*) of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. `Celebrity', `Early Pick', and `Mountain Delight') were measured using a Minolta CR-200b tristimulus colorimeter. Lycopene concentrations in acetone extracts of skin disks or pericarp plugs were measured spectrophometrically at 503 nm. The L* or a* value was related to lycopene concentration in all the cultivars; however, the ratio of (a*/b*) provided the best R for all cultivars (0.75). These relationships allow the use of a portable colorimeter for rapid, nondestructive estimation of tomato fruit lycopene concentrations in laboratory or in situ studies.