INHERITANCE OF BETA-CAROTENE IN TOMATOES

Abstract

ETA-carotene is the principal vitamin A active carotenoid found in to-B mato fruits.This pigment, however, constitutes only about 5 percent of the total carotenes present in commercial red-fruited varieties.Almost all of the remaining 95 percent of carotene is lycopene.In spite of the relatively small percentage of beta-carotene occurring in red-fruited varieties, tomatoes are classified, nevertheless, as a "good" source of vitamin A for the human diet (HEINZ 1942).In 1942 a study aimed a t increasing the vitamin content of tomato selections by breeding was initiated a t this station.Progress toward the production of varieties genetically constituted to produce high concentrations of provitamin