Characterization of traditional tomato varieties grown in organic conditions

Abstract

Organic horticulture is a sustainable agricultural model that can provide high quality products and allows conservationof genetic diversity. Traditional tomato varieties are well adapted to organic production and they have the organolepticcharacteristics demanded by consumers. Seven traditional tomato varieties were studied: BGV-001020, BGV-000998,BGV-001000, BGV-004123, CIDA-44-A, CIDA-62, CIDA-59-A, and they were compared with a tomato Marmandetype commercial cv. ‘Baghera’, all them grown under organic production. Several quality variables were measured toestablish whether any of the traditional varieties might be suitable for commercial production. CIDA-62 was shown to be the most promising variety. It produces tomatoes of very high quality under organic conditions. It excels in terms of bioactive compounds such as vitamin C (459.22 mg kg–1 fw) and lycopene (62.25 mg kg–1 fw) and in its total antioxidant activity (43.58 mg Trolox/100 g fw). It is also outstanding in terms of its sugar content (4.56% fructose and glucose combined) and of its total soluble solids content (6.22°Brix). All of these variables are associated with both sensory quality and health benefits. Other varieties that emerged with relatively high levels of total soluble solids content, lycopene, vitamin C and total antioxidant activity were BGV-004123 and BGV-001020.