Provitamin A and Vitamin C in the Genus Lycopersicon

Evaluation and selection of tomato accessions (Solanum section Lycopersicon) for content of lycopene, β-carotene and ascorbic acid

“…In this group, there are five accessions of the cherry tomato type (S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and one S. pimpinellifolium accession, thus confirming previous reports which indicated that these species are the best sources of antioxidants with nutraceutical properties (George et al, 2004;Hanson et al, 2004;Lincoln et al, 1943). The cherry type accessions included in this first ideal group (BGV008057, BGV006863, BGV012627, BGV008060 and BGV008354) are very desirable for direct consumption given their high and balanced nutraceutical properties.…”

Genetic Improvement of Tomato

“…The resulting orange fruited tomatoes have about 13 times the normal level of p-carotene (Lincoln et al 1943). The resulting orange fruited tomatoes have about 13 times the normal level of p-carotene (Lincoln et al 1943).…”

Biodiversity and Vegetable Breeding in the Light of Developments in Intellectual Property Rights

“…Vegetable breeding for nutritional quality was not mentioned as a primary goal in plant breeding text books through the mid-20 th century. However vegetable breeding efforts targeting improved micronutrient content and composition had begun in the 1940s and 1950s with research describing the inheritance and development of tomato breeding stocks and lines high in provitamin A carotenoids and vitamin C (Lincoln et al, 1943;Lincoln & Porter, 1950;Tomes et al, 1953). Lincoln et al (1943) noted a fourfold variation in vitamin C among commercial varieties and up to 1194 ppm in red-fruited tomato interspecific crosses with Solanum pimpinellifolium.…”

“…However vegetable breeding efforts targeting improved micronutrient content and composition had begun in the 1940s and 1950s with research describing the inheritance and development of tomato breeding stocks and lines high in provitamin A carotenoids and vitamin C (Lincoln et al, 1943;Lincoln & Porter, 1950;Tomes et al, 1953). Lincoln et al (1943) noted a fourfold variation in vitamin C among commercial varieties and up to 1194 ppm in red-fruited tomato interspecific crosses with Solanum pimpinellifolium. Similar research leading to the development of darker orange, and consequently high provitamin A, carrots began in the 1970s (Gabelman & Peters, 1979).…”