Pearl Grey Shading Net Boosts the Accumulation of Total Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds That Accentuate the Antioxidant Activity of Processing Tomato.

Luigi Formisano,Stefania De Pascale,Youssef Rouphael,Michele Ciriello,Giuseppe Starace,Milena Poledica,Alberto Ritieni,Christophe El-Nakhel,Giulia Graziani

doi:10.3390/antiox10121999

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide due to its low caloric intake and high fiber, minerals, and phenolic compounds, making it a high-quality functional food. However, fruit quality attributes can be affected by pre-harvest factors, especially environmental stresses. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of two shading nets (white net −30% and pearl grey net −40% shading degree) on the yield and phytochemical profile of tomato fruits grown in summer under the Mediterranean climate. Mineral and organic acid content (by ion chromatography-IC), phenolic profile (by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-UHPLC coupled with an Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry-HRMS), carotenoid content (by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection-HPLC-DAD), and antioxidant activities DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP (by UV-VIS spectrophotometry) were determined. Tomato fruits grown under the pearl grey net recorded the highest values of total phenolic compounds (14,997 µg 100 g−1 of fresh weight) and antioxidant activities DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, without affecting either fruit color or marketable yield. The reduction of solar radiation through pearl grey nets proved to be an excellent tool to increase the phytochemical quality of tomato fruits during summer cultivation in a Mediterranean environment.

Highlights

Providing a comprehensive definition of vegetable quality nowadays is an everincreasing meticulous task
Our findings showed significant antioxidant activity in fruits grown under pearl grey net, probably related to the higher content of total phenolic compounds (Table 7) [75]
In warm Mediterranean regions, high light and high temperatures pose a challenge to tomato production, especially affecting fruit quality and nutraceutical values

Summary

Introduction

Providing a comprehensive definition of vegetable quality nowadays is an everincreasing meticulous task. The primary goal of the horticultural supply chain was to ensure food security by breeding ‘high yielding’ genotypes, considering quality as something exclusively related to visual attributes such as size, shape, and color [1,2,3]. The irreconcilable contrast between the frenetic rhythms imposed by modern times and the desire for a healthy lifestyle has drawn attention to the importance of a nourishing diet as a lifeline [5]. A healthy lifestyle diet based on the consumption of large portions of fruits and vegetables, such as the Mediterranean diet, is a powerful weapon for reducing the incidence of pathological disorders through a regular intake of natural boosters such as vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients [6].

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