Conventional Tomatoes Research Articles

Chemical risk assessment of conventionally and organically grown tomatoes in Côte d'Ivoire

Background: The use of fertilizers in agriculture can be a source of contamination of fruits and vegetables. Aims: This study was to assess the level of contamination of tomatoes by heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, and As), in order to assess the risks of exposure of consumers of tomatoes in Côte d'Ivoire. Material and Methods: More specifically, the assessment focused on the contamination by heavy metals used intensively by producers for the fertilization of vegetable crops. Four heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic) were tested in tomato samples from both types of agriculture. Results: The average level of mercury in organic tomatoes (0.08290 ± 0.03 mg/kg) and in conventional tomatoes (0.1564 ± 0.1 mg/kg) exceeded the maximum limit (EC N 1881/2006). However, in organic tomatoes, only mercury level exceeded the required standard, the other heavy metals being present in trace amounts. The content of these other metals in the organic tomatoes exceeded the standard. However, the ratio (hazard quotient) of the weekly heavy metal intake to the provisional tolerable weekly intake for all heavy metals was less than one (1). Conclusion: Consumption of tomatoes from the areas in this study did not pose a health risk to the consumer. Keywords: Organic agriculture, conventional agriculture, heavy metals, dietary exposure.

Consumer preferences for produce grown with reduced pesticides: a choice experiment in Missouri

Abstract There have been growing concerns about exposure to chemical pesticides in fresh fruits and vegetables, which are an important part of a healthy diet. This study investigates consumer preferences for reduced pesticide, organic, local, and Missouri Grown produce using a discrete choice experiment. An online survey of fresh tomato consumers was conducted in Missouri to collect choice data, demographic information, and the individual health and environmental attitudes of shoppers. Respondents were willing to pay a premium of 6% for tomatoes produced with 50% less pesticide than conventional tomatoes. The finding indicates there may be a demand for reduced pesticide produce as a compromise between conventional and organic products in terms of price and safety. Also, we found complementary effects between the reduced pesticide attribute and local or Missouri Grown labels, which means consumers in this segment would pay more for fruits and vegetables that were also locally produced. The results suggest important implications for local producers and policy makers in terms of the production and marketing of reduced pesticide produce, such as the need to develop a reduced pesticide label.

Percepção de risco e análise sensorial de tomates frescos provenientes de feira livre em São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT The nutritional and sensory qualities of tomatoes favor their acceptance worldwide. This study was carried out to evaluate the risk perception of agrochemical and sensory residue in tomato consumption. Thus, 12 kg of organic tomatoes (OT) and 12 kg of conventional tomatoes (CT) at an equal maturation stage were selected. R version 3.6.1 was applied to the analysis of physical and chemical variables. The Mann-Whitney test with a value of p<0.05 was used to verify associations between the groups. The sensory evaluation involved 37 volunteers and considered the mean answers of each question about the perception of fresh tomatoes. The OT presented about 13% more ascorbic acid in relation to CT, but there was no significant difference between them (p>0.05). OT detected higher values for pH, soluble solids (ºBrix) and titratable acidity, but there were no significant differences between them (p>0.05). Chlorfenapir residues below the Acceptable Daily Intake (IDA) value (0.03 mg/kg per capita) were detected, indicating a low risk of acute toxicity. Chlorfenapir is banned in Europe, but remains detected in Brazil. Public policies are needed to encourage sustainable food production.

Concentration, uptake and human dietary intake of novel brominated flame retardants in greenhouse and conventional vegetables

The possible adverse effects of organic pollutants entering vegetables have attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, research on the behavior of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in soil-vegetable systems is still limited. This work was initiated to investigate the uptake of seven representative NBFRs by vegetables from bulk soil and suspended soil particles under greenhouse and conventional conditions. The mean concentrations of the sum of seven NBFRs (Σ7 NBFRs) were 2.8 and 3.8 ng g−1 dw in greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively, and 1.1 and 1.7 ng g−1 dw in conventional tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively. Greenhouse vegetables had higher concentrations of Σ7 NBFRs than conventional vegetables. The root bioaccumulation factors (RBCFs) of tomatoes and cucumbers in response to NBFRs ranged from 0.6 to 6.3. The range of fruit bioaccumulation factors (FBCFs) was 0.3–7.0. The bioaccumulation factors (BCFs) in greenhouse vegetables were significantly higher than those in conventional vegetables, indicating that greenhouses increased the uptake of NBFRs by vegetables. To address human dietary exposure to NBFRs, the estimated dietary intake (EDI) and the amounts available for human absorption (EDIba) were calculated using vegetable consumption and gastrointestinal absorption, respectively. The mean EDI values of NBFRs from greenhouse and conventional tomato consumption were 344 ng d−1 and 109 ng d−1, respectively. The mean EDI values of NBFRs from greenhouse and conventional cucumber consumption were 445 ng d−1 and 217 ng d−1, respectively. The higher EDI values of NBFRs implied that consuming greenhouse vegetables was associated with higher health risks than consuming conventional vegetables. The mean EDIba values of the DBDPEs were 68 ng d−1 and 46 ng d−1 for tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively, and were significantly different from the EDI values due to lower bioaccessibility. Gastrointestinal absorption should not be neglected during risk assessments of human exposure to pollutants.

Effects of organic and inorganic fertilization on yield and quality of processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Abstract The demand for organically grown products is increasing because many people are concerned about the environment and believe that organic products are healthier than conventional ones. Some studies have shown that organically produced tomato fruits contain higher levels of antioxidants, polyphenols and carotenoids than those produced conventionally. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of organic and inorganic fertilization on agronomic and quality characteristics of the processing tomato. The 2-year experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and three fertilization treatments (untreated, compost and inorganic fertilizer). The results showed that the highest fruit number per plant (98.5), average fruit weight (63.6 g) and fruit yield (168.0 t ha−1) were obtained under inorganic fertilization. The highest total soluble solids (4.39 °Brix) and total soluble solids to titratable acidity ratio (17.4), L* (43.4) and a* (35.4) values, as well as the highest lycopene content (88.5 mg kg−1 f.w). were achieved through the application of organic fertilizer. Significantly higher total soluble solids and total soluble solids to titratable acidity ratio in organically grown tomatoes are particularly important to the processing tomato industry. Finally, the highest lycopene content produced under organic fertilization as well as the non-significant difference between the organic and conventional tomatoes in terms of lycopene yield make organic processing tomatoes suitable for lycopene production.

A non-targeted metabolomic approach to identify food markers to support discrimination between organic and conventional tomato crops

In the last decade, the consumption trend of organic food has increased dramatically worldwide. However, the lack of reliable chemical markers to discriminate between organic and conventional products makes this market susceptible to food fraud in products labeled as “organic”. Metabolomic fingerprinting approach has been demonstrated as the best option for a full characterization of metabolome occurring in plants, since their pattern may reflect the impact of both endogenous and exogenous factors. In the present study, advanced technologies based on high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRAMS) has been used for marker search in organic and conventional tomatoes grown in greenhouse under controlled agronomic conditions. The screening of unknown compounds comprised the retrospective analysis of all tomato samples throughout the studied period and data processing using databases (mzCloud, ChemSpider and PubChem). In addition, stable nitrogen isotope analysis (δ15N) was assessed as a possible indicator to support discrimination between both production systems using crop/fertilizer correlations. Pesticide residue analyses were also applied as a well-established way to evaluate the organic production. Finally, the evaluation by combined chemometric analysis of high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAMS) and δ15N data provided a robust classification model in accordance with the agricultural practices. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed a sample clustering according to farming systems and significant differences in the sample profile was observed for six bioactive components (L-tyrosyl-L-isoleucyl-L-threonyl-L-threonine, trilobatin, phloridzin, tomatine, phloretin and echinenone).

Potential of different energy saving strategies in heated greenhouse

In heated greenhouses, large amounts of energy are used to optimize climate conditions (temperature, humidity). In conventional tomatoes production, the estimated annual energy consumption is 320 kWh m-2 in France, with large differences across regions, 400 kWh m-2 in Brittany and 240 kWh m-2 in the South (ADEME, 2007). In Switzerland, it varies between 245 and 500 kWh m-2 according to the regions. With increasing energy prices and environmental concerns, growers have to find solutions to reduce their energy use and to improve the energy efficiency. Several axes could be used to achieve this goals, one of them is climate management. Within the working group Energy saving and neutral production of the Cost Action FA 1105 BioGreenhouse, a review on the potential for energy saving in heated greenhouse thanks to climate management was done. Basically, there are two ways to reduce energy consumption: related to temperature control and to humidity control. The energy saving potential of lowered day and night temperature set points, temperature integration (TI) and screen management will be presented in relation to the effects on production. In Switzerland, three trials from 2006 to 2008 in tomato crops showed that an energy saving potential of 15 to 30% could be achieved with TI compared to the standard temperature treatment. An energy saving between 23 and 30% with screens management based on external temperature and light intensity compared to a management according to the sunrise was obtained. To reduce energy consumption related to humidity control, dehumidification with heat recovery was studied. A traditional dehumidification (ventilation and heating) was compared with dehumidification with a heat pump in tomatoes crop. In 2013, 15% energy saving was achieved with the dehumidifier and in 2014 reached 25%. No difference in plant growth, yield and fruit quality was measured.

Tomato Quality from Organic and Conventional Production in the Selected Area of Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal

From the selected area of Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal, conventional and organic tomatoes were grown and tested with different parameters. Conventional tomatoes contained less value of Mg, Ca, K, Cu and Mn, but more value of Fe than organic tomatoes, where as Pb and Ni were not detected.The Zn was found to be same in both tomatoes sample. The sizes of conventional tomatoes were reportedly bigger than organic tomatoes. The viscosity and surface tension of organic tomatoes juice were reported to be higher than in conventional tomatoes juice. The refractive index value was found to be lower in conventional tomatoes juice than in organic tomatoes juice. The vitamin C value was found to be higher in conventional tomatoes juice than in organic tomatoes juice. The comparative study of color, juice containing capacity, storage capacity and firmness of organic and conventional tomatoes of Dharan,Sunsari,Nepal has also been included.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(1): 91-97

A microbiological survey on tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) marketed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Fresh produce can be a possible source of microbiological contamination. In the past 20 years, several salmonellosis outbreaks due to the consumption of tomato have been reported, mainly in the USA. Organic raw vegetables pose a risk for the transmission of foodborne pathogens since they are often cultivated using manure as a fertilizer. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of the presence of Salmonella spp, total coliforms and Escherichia coli on the surface of tomatoes from two different production systems. A total of 262 samples of organic and conventional tomatoes were collected from supermarkets and open street markets in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and analyzed for these microorganisms. To increase the probability of detecting Salmonella spp, we used two different detection methods: the traditional method from the Bacteriological Analytical Manual-Food and Drug Administration (BAM-FDA) and the Mini-Vidas-SLM-bioMerieux. Total coliforms were detected in the range of 1 to 4 log10 CFU/g, E. coli was found in only three samples (2 conventional and 1 organic) and Salmonella was absent in all of the analyzed samples. The results demonstrate that all of the samples were in agreement with the Brazilian legislation for Salmonella spp.

Effects of quality claims on willingness to pay for organic food

Purpose Claims about environmental impact, health effects and taste of food products are restricted in the EU. The purpose of this paper is to quantify how much such claims would change the willingness to pay (WTP) for organic products in Croatia. Design/methodology/approach For estimating the WTP under different claims the authors used an experimental auction. Participants (258) bid for real food products (organic and conventional tomatoes and apples) and are endowed with cash at a location where they usually go shopping. Findings For the sample the authors find that consumers are willing to pay on average a premium of 42 percent for organic apples and 59 percent for organic tomatoes. On top of that, WTP increases between 16-20 percent for environmental claims and 12 percent for health claims. Taste-related claims are not significant. Practical implications Sellers and producers of organic food can benefit from adding claims to organic labels. To protect consumers from manipulation, regulators are well advised to be cautions when allowing claims about credence attributes of food. Originality/value The authors quantify the influence of claims about organic products on the WTP by using experimental auctions which are particularly suitable to investigate effects which cannot be observed on the market.

PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN CONVENTIONALLY AND ORGANICALLY GROWN TOMATOES IN ESPÍRITO SANTO (BRAZIL)

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of acephate, carbaryl, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin, methamidophos and permethrin in conventionally and organically grown tomatoes from Espirito Santo, Brazil, between May 2012 and April 2013. QuEChERS sample preparation was used and analysis was performed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. The method validation showed good linearity (R > 0.99), precision (RSD < 13%) and accuracy (89 - 123%), and the limits of quantification were below 0.01 mg kg-1 for all pesticides. The pesticides acephate, carbaryl (0.23 mg kg-1; exceeding maximum residue levels), carbendazim, chlorpyriphos, dichlorvos, fenpropathrin (0.41 mg kg-1; exceeding maximum residue levels), methamidophos and permethrin (0.51 mg kg-1, exceeding maximum residue levels) were found in conventional tomatoes. In organic tomatoes, only one sample exhibited the presence of permethrin (0.21 mg kg-1). Considering that the pesticides found are toxic and carcinogenic, and given the high incidence of irregularities, it is important to implement government actions to ensure consumer safety.

Assessment of region, farming system, irrigation source and sampling time as food safety risk factors for tomatoes

In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, small- and medium-sized farmers use varied farm management methods and water sources to produce tomatoes. It is unclear whether these practices affect the food safety risk for tomatoes. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, and assess risk factors for Salmonella enterica, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and bacterial indicators in pre-harvest tomatoes and their production areas. A total of 24 organic and conventional, small- to medium-sized farms were sampled for six weeks in Maryland (MD), Delaware (DE) and New Jersey (NJ) between July and September 2012, and analyzed for indicator bacteria, Salmonella and STEC. A total of 422 samples – tomato fruit, irrigation water, compost, field soil and pond sediment samples – were collected, 259 of which were tomato samples. A low level of Salmonella-specific invA and Shiga toxin genes (stx1 or stx2) were detected, but no Salmonella or STEC isolates were recovered. Of the 422 samples analyzed, 9.5% were positive for generic E. coli, found in 5.4% (n=259) of tomato fruits, 22.5% (n=102) of irrigation water, 8.9% (n=45) of soil, 3/9 of pond sediment and 0/7 of compost samples. For tomato fruit, farming system (organic versus conventional) was not a significant factor for levels of indicator bacteria. However, the total number of organic tomato samples positive for generic E. coli (1.6%; 2/129) was significantly lower than for conventional tomatoes (6.9% (9/130); (χ2 (1)=4.60, p=0.032)). Region was a significant factor for levels of Total Coliforms (TC) (p=0.046), although differences were marginal, with western MD having the highest TC counts (2.6logCFU/g) and NJ having the lowest (2.0logCFU/g). Tomatoes touching the ground or plastic mulch harbored significantly higher levels of TC compared to vine tomatoes, signaling a potential risk factor. Source of irrigation water was a significant factor for all indicator bacteria (p<0.0001), and groundwater had lower bacterial levels than surface water. End of line surface water samples were not significantly different from source water samples, but end of line groundwater samples had significantly higher bacterial counts than source (p<0.0001), suggesting that Good Agricultural Practices that focus on irrigation line maintenance might be beneficial. In general, local effects other than cropping practices, including topography, land use and adjacent industries, might be important factors contributing to microbiological inputs on small- and medium-sized farms in the mid-Atlantic region.

Using Trendsetting Chefs to Design New Culinary Preparations with the “Penjar” Tomato

New food products are normally marketed after research regarding consumers’ preferences. As an alternative, we used trendsetting chefs to develop and evaluate products with the traditional, long shelf life, “Penjar” tomato (alc gene). The most appreciated creations were Catalan bread with tomato, tomato sauce, and tomato jam, excelling by its flavor complexity and balance. The description of the products by a trained panel revealed significant differences between varieties (especially between the food products elaborated with the “Penjar” type and conventional tomatoes). However, it was not easy to match the chefs’ assessments about sensory properties with the panel descriptions.

Organic versus conventional tomatoes: Influence on physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds and sensorial attributes

The effect of organic and conventional agricultural systems on the physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds content, and sensorial attributes of tomatoes (“Redondo” cultivar) was studied. The influence on phytochemicals distribution among peel, pulp and seeds was also accessed. Organic tomatoes were richer in lycopene (+20%), vitamin C (+30%), total phenolics (+24%) and flavonoids (+21%) and had higher (+6%) in vitro antioxidant activity. In the conventional fruits, lycopene was mainly concentrated in the pulp, whereas in the organic ones, the peel and seeds contained high levels of bioactive compounds. Only the phenolic compounds had a similar distribution among the different fractions of both types of tomatoes. Furthermore, a sensorial analysis indicated that organic farming improved the gustative properties of this tomato cultivar.

A Study on Antioxidant Property of Organic and Conventional Tomatoes

Tomato is one of the commonly consumed vegetables with high antioxidant capacity. The objective of the present study is to compare the antioxidant property of organic and conventional tomatoes. For the experiment, organic samples were procured from Era Organic Foods, (IMO Certified) Bangalore. Same variety of conventional tomato was obtained from same agro climatic zone. The samples were freeze dried using a lyodryer (LT5BC ISI lyphilization system, USA) and stored at 4 C in dark. The tomato extract was prepared in a solvent consisting of methanol (69%), ethanol (20%), HCl (10%) and water (1%). Total antioxidant capacity was estimated using Free Radical scavenging activity using 2, 2 Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH),β Carotene bleaching method, Linoleic acid emulsion system-thiocyanate method and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power(FRAP) methods. The results reveal that organic tomatoes have higher antioxidant ability than conventional tomatoes. These differences are significantly higher in case of DPPH method, β Carotene bleaching method but not significant in case of Linoleic acid emulsion system-thiocyanate method and Ferric- reducing antioxidant power method.

Heavy Metals and Nitrate Content in Tomato Fruit Grown in Organic and Conventional Production Systems

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there were any differences in the heavy metals and nitrate contents in organic and conventional tomatoes (Robin-F1, Amati-F1, and Elpida-F1). The tomato as a fruit vegetable is not characterized by high accumulation of heavy metals and nitrates. We found significantly greater concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Ni in conventional tomatoes, but we found the growing method to have no influence on cadmium Cd, Co, and Cr levels in all cultivars. In the present study, the detected levels of contaminants were found to be markedly lower than the maximum limits allowed by law. The concentrations of heavy metals in tomato fruit decreased in the order Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni>Co>Cd. This study confirms that the most important variable in the nitrate content of tomatoes is cultivar. The lowest content of nitrates is registered in the variety Elpida, especially in the organically fertilized (20 mg·kg -1 ). The nitrate content in this study is presented as the average of all cultivars, and it was found to be lower in organic production (29%-41%) compared to conventional production systems.

Antioxidant potential of tomatoes cultivated in organic and conventional systems

The objective of the study was to compare the effect of organic and conventional cultivation on the antioxidant compound content and antioxidant activity of the Carmen tomato cultivar. Tomatoes were analyzed regarding ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, lycopene content and antioxidant activity. Organic tomatoes presented higher content of ascorbic acid and total phenolics (641.39 and 4466.66 mg/100 g EAG on dry wt basis) than did the conventional tomatoes (510.16 and 3477.50 mg/100 g EAG on wt dry basis, respectively). There was no difference in lycopene concentrations between the organic and conventional. The ether, alcohol and aqueous extracts obtained from the tomatoes were subjected to the DPPH test and the β-carotene/linoleic acid system assay. The alcohol and aqueous extracts from organic tomatoes presented higher antioxidant activity in the DPPH test (25.43 and 14.28%, respectively) than the conventional tomatoes (19.52 and 11.33%, respectively). Organic tomatoes had higher antioxidant potential probably due to its higher ascorbic acid and total phenolic values.

Do Organic Cherry Vine Tomatoes Taste Better Than Conventional Cherry Vine Tomatoes? A Sensory and Instrumental Comparative Study from Ireland

A consumer panel was able to distinguish a perceptible difference between organically farmed and conventionally produced tomatoes and preferred the taste of the conventional tomatoes. The sensory evaluation results of the trained panel revealed that the conventional tomatoes were sweeter and less sour than the organic tomatoes. In addition, the conventional tomatoes showed significant differences for °Brix, reducing sugars, and electrical conductivity. No significant differences were observed between the organic and conventional tomato samples for color, size, firmness, pH, and dry matter values.

Evaluation of a Method To Characterize the Phenolic Profile of Organic and Conventional Tomatoes

The present study aims to compare the phenolic profiles of organic and conventional tomatoes bought in the market. For the quantification and identification of individual polyphenols, liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem mode (LC-MS/MS) was carried out. Confirmation of the compounds previously identified on the triple-quadrupole was accomplished by injection in the high-resolution system (QToF-MS). In this way, 34 compounds were identified in tomato fruits. Recoveries of targeted polyphenols exceed 78% for conventional and organic tomatoes, respectively. The method intraday precision ranged between 3 and 5%, whereas the interday one was below 12%. Comparing the analyses of tomatoes from conventional and organic production systems demonstrated statistically higher levels (P < 0.05) of phenolic compounds in organic tomatoes. This methodology allowed finding differences in the bioactive components of organic and conventional tomatoes not previously reported.

Yields and Soil Quality under Transitional Organic High Tunnel Tomatoes

Interest in unheated plastic film-covered high tunnels to extend the growing season of high-value fruits and vegetables is growing rapidly, but sustainable soil management in intensively managed high tunnels is challenging. Yields, fruit quality, and soil quality in transition organic and conventional tomato were measured over the course of three growing seasons. Nitrogen (N) was applied at the rate of 112, 168, and 224 kg total N/ha in the form of chicken manure compost to the organic treatments and a polymer-coated slow-release urea fertilizer in the conventional treatments. Marketable yield of organically grown tomatoes was lower in Year 1 but equaled conventional tomatoes in Years 2 and 3. Soil quality as measured by total carbon (C) and N and microbial activity was significantly greater in organic tomato production at the end of the study. Significant phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) applied with the composted manure resulted in high soil P and K levels in organically managed high tunnels after just 3 years of application. Although compost is the most economical organic fertilizer and results in significant benefits in soil quality during the transition phase to organic production, a maintenance fertility plan is needed once available soil P reaches adequate to high levels. Combinations of compost and high N, low P organic fertilizers are needed for optimum maintenance fertility strategy for organic tunnel house production.