Estudo exploratório da estimativa indireta de licopeno via análise colorimétrica de genótipos de tomateiro de acessos tradicionais frescos e refrigerados

The collection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Portuguese Bank of Plant Germplasm of INRB, brings together dozens of hits in characterization. This paper presents results of color versus lycopene content of tomato accessions of some Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (2011-2012), in order to indirectly estimate the levels of lycopene in tomato fresh/chilled accesses via colorimetric analysis. The study took place in 10 tomato accessions, fresh and chilled to 5 ° C. The changes in color /pigment during the ripening of tomato are characterized by reduced chlorophyll and a rapid accumulation of carotenoids, particularly lycopene. Sometimes, due to the convenience and ease of use of color measuring the content of lycopene in the tomato pulp can be determined without the need to conduct a chemical analysis, in that there is a good correlation between the color of the fruit and lycopene content (adapted D'Souza, et al., 1992, Arias, et al., 2000 cited by Carvalho, et al., 2005). For all this justifies the existence of quality control tools across the row, starting at the selection of genotypes in breeding programs of tomato. The homogenized pulp is considered one of the best alternatives correlation associated with the chromaticity coordinate a.------The collection of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) Portuguese Bank of Plant Germplasm of INRB, brings together dozens of hits in characterization. This paper presents results of color versus lycopene content of tomato accessions of some Portuguese Plant Germplasm Bank (2011-2012), in order to indirectly estimate the levels of lycopene in tomato fresh/chilled accesses via colorimetric analysis. The study took place in 10 tomato accessions, fresh and chilled to 5 ° C. The changes in color /pigment during the ripening of tomato are characterized by reduced chlorophyll and a rapid accumulation of carotenoids, particularly lycopene. Sometimes, due to the convenience and ease of use of color measuring the content of lycopene in the tomato pulp can be determined without the need to conduct a chemical analysis, in that there is a good correlation between the color of the fruit and lycopene content (adapted D'Souza, et al., 1992, Arias, et al., 2000 cited by Carvalho, et al., 2005). For all this justifies the existence of quality control tools across the row, starting at the selection of genotypes in breeding programs of tomato. The homogenized pulp is considered one of the best alternatives correlation associated with the chromaticity coordinate a *.