COMPARISON OF FRUIT QUALITY INDICATORS OF DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATOES

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate and compare the qualitative parameters of different tomato varieties. Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were grown in 2021in Kaunas district, Digriai village. For analysis, healthy tomatoes were picked on August 30 without any visible signs of damage or disease. The object of the research was the following tomato varieties grown in the experiment: 'Honey Moon F1', 'Napika', 'Doufu × Brooklyn H' and 'Valencia'.

Biometric measurements of tomato fruit in a field experiment: the diameter of the fruit was measured with a caliper and the weight was determined by weighing with electronic scales. VDU ZUA the following quality indicators for tomatoes were determined in the laboratory for quality control of plant food raw materials, which were performed in three replicates: dry matter content, soluble dry matter content and lycopene content.

The study substantially maximum (233,6 g and 5,7 cm) biometric parameters were found in the fruit of the tomato variety 'Honey Moon F1'. Lycopene was mainly concentrated in the red variety 'Honey Moon F1', 'Napika' ir 'Doufu × Brooklyn H' (3,0 – 3,5 mg 100 g^-1) and the lowest in yellow 'Valencia' (0,27 mg 100 g^-1). The content of dry matter was significantly the highest (6,0%) in the variety 'Napika', no significant differences were found among the other varieties studied. Reliable maximum soluble solids (5,0%) content of 'Honey Moon F1' tomatoes.