Selection of tomato landraces with high fruit yield and nutritional quality under elevated temperatures

Abstract

BACKGROUND Global warming and extreme or adverse events induced by climatic fluctuations are an important threat for plants growth and agricultural production. Adaptability to environmental changes prevalently derives from a large set of genetic traits affecting physiological and agronomic parameters. Therefore, the identification of genotypes that are good yield performer at high temperatures is becoming increasingly necessary for future breeding programs. Here, we analyzed the performances of different tomato landraces grown under elevated temperatures in terms of yield and nutritional quality of the fruit. Finally, we evaluated the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of fruit extracts from the tomato landraces selected. RESULTS The tomato landraces analyzed here in a hot climate differed in terms of yield performance, physicochemical parameters of fruit (pH, titratable acidity, degrees Brix, firmness), bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and polyphenols), and anti‐inflammatory potential. Three of these landraces (named E30, E94, and PDVIT) showed higher fruit quality and nutritional value. An estimated evaluation index allowed identification of PDVIT as the best performer in terms of yield and fruit quality under high temperatures. CONCLUSION The analyses performed here highlight the possibility to identify new landraces that can combine good yield performances and fruit nutritional quality at high temperatures, information that is useful for future breeding programs. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Foliar application of putrescine before a short‐term heat stress improves the quality of melon fruits (Cucumis melo L.)

“…and Wang and Zheng 5 observed a significant increase in the antioxidant capacity of strawberries due to HS. A thermal shock can activate different biochemical mechanisms, such as the synthesis of pigments and secondary metabolites (antioxidant compounds, osmoprotectants and heat‐shock proteins) 6,7 . The production of fruits rich in antioxidant compounds is of great interest, with regard to the prevention of diseases as well as cancer or cardiovascular pathologies in humans 8 …”

“…A thermal shock can activate different biochemical mechanisms, such as the synthesis of pigments and secondary metabolites (antioxidant compounds, osmoprotectants and heat-shock proteins). 6,7 The production of fruits rich in antioxidant compounds is of great interest, with regard to the prevention of diseases as well as cancer or cardiovascular pathologies in humans. 8 Polyamines (PAs) are low-molecular-weight aliphatic amine bases and include putrescine (Put), spermine and spermidine, which have strong biological activity.…”

Nutritional Value and Phytochemical Content of Crop Landraces and Traditional Varieties

“…A higher concentration of this carotenoid was found in green fruits of the two landraces when compared to 'Moneymaker' , whereas in ripe fruits, only the landrace Negro Yeste had a higher amount, even more than double. Also in comparison with the commercial variety 'Moneymaker' , three tomato landraces, two from Italy and one from Guatemala, showed a significantly higher β-carotene content [29]. In other study carried out in melon (Cucumis melo L.), landraces of different origins exhibited the highest levels of β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene compared with commercial melons [30].…”

“…In addition, CIDA-62 fruits showed the highest antioxidant activity, whereas the lowest was observed in the commercial variety [42]. Other authors also reported 10 indeterminate tomato landraces that exhibited significantly higher AA contents than the commercial variety 'Moneymaker' [29]. In analyses of the AA content in accessions of garlic (Allium sativum L.) from Plugia region (Italy), the six landraces evaluated had a higher content than the commercial cultivar used as reference [43].…”

“…Tomato is one of the most important crops worldwide and it is very rich in polyphenols. Several Italian and Spanish landraces have been reported to have higher contents of total phenolic compounds than the commercial varieties 'Brigade' and 'Moneymaker' , with significant higher levels of the flavonoids quercetin-3-rutinoside, kaempferol-O-rutinoside and kaempferol-O-glucoside in the case of the Spanish landraces [29,70]. Nevertheless, polyphenols are abundant in many other crops.…”