Effects of a plant-derived biostimulant application on quality and functional traits of greenhouse cherry tomato cultivars. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Distefano, Miriam; Steingass, Christof B.; Leonardi, Cherubino; Giuffrida, Francesco; Schweiggert, Ralf; Mauro, Rosario P.
• Is Part Of: Food research international. Volume 157(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Tomato -- Plant-derived biostimulant -- Fruit quality -- Carotenoids -- Tocochromanols; α-TE alpha-tocopherol equivalent -- BHT butylated hydroxytoluene -- DAD diode array detector -- DAT days after transplanting -- DM dry matter -- ESI-MS/MS electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry -- FLD fluorescence detector -- FW fresh weight -- LOD limit of detection -- LOQ limit of quantification -- MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether -- PDB plant-derived biostimulant -- PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene -- RAE retinol activity equivalent -- RH relative humidity -- TA titratable acidity -- tR retention time -- TCI tomato color index -- TSS total soluble solids -- (U)HPLC-DAD (ultra) high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection -- UV/vis ultraviolet/visible -- VPD vapor-pressure deficit -- PC principal component -- CII cluster II -- CVI cluster VI; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Canada -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Canada -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9969

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The effects of a plant biostimulant (PB) on greenhouse cherry tomato were studied. Analysis of two clusters (2nd vs. 6th) ripening during different periods. Detailed profile of carotenoids and tocochromanols in tomatoes were reported. The PB promoted yield and all lipophilic antioxidants but depressed sugars. Stronger PB effects were noticed on 6th cluster (ripening in winter) Abstract: A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the effects of the application of a plant-derived biostimulant (Bioup® TF) on fruit quality and composition of two clusters (cluster II and cluster VI) of the cherry tomato cultivars 'Eletta', 'Kaucana', and 'Top Stellina'. The biostimulant application promoted fruit yield by 12% (up to 1.3 kg m −2 in 'Kaucana') and increased the concentrations of important functional constituents like phytoene, γ-tocopherol and β-tocopherol by up to 16, 25, and 23%, respectively. Fruits from late-ripe cluster VI showed higher fruit weights, D-fructose, and total sugar contents than those from early-ripe cluster II (by 15, 7 and 5%, respectively), but reduced concentrations of acyclic carotenoids (phytoene and lycopene) and tocochromanols (mainly γ-tocopherol, −44%). 'Top Stellina' showed the highest responsiveness to the biostimulant, as particularly (all- E )-β-carotene, phytofluene, and γ-tocopherol concentrations increased, indicating a genotype-dependent effect of the treatment. However, fruits of all treated genotypes showed a contextual decrease in D-fructose and total sugars in response to the biostimulant (on average by 7 and 10%, respectively), indicating a metabolic load burdening the accumulation of lipophilic antioxidants in cherry tomatoes at the expense of their taste-related C pool.