Αναλυτική και μοριακή χαρτογράφηση βιοσύνθεσης λυκοπενίου και αντιξειδωτικής ικανότητας εμπορικά σημαντικών ποικιλιών τομάτας
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most important vegetable crop in the world
after potato and undoubtedly the most popular vegetable crop since it is considered to be the
most economically advantageous growing vegetable. The ripe fruit has an intense red color,
because it contains the pigment lycopene, which accounts for approximately 60-74% of the
total content of carotenoids in tomatoes and is considered to be the most effective antioxidant
among the carotenoids through reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. The antioxidant
properties of lycopene contribute greatly to the fruit’s potential anticancer properties. In the
current study we examined samples from three commercial tomato varieties (Hellfrucht,
Brillante Fa 179 and HA34449 F1 hybrid - cherry) in three developmental/ripening stages of
each fruit (immature, breaker and ripe). Using fresh tomatoes and following an analytical
approach an increase in lycopene content was observed in tomatoes correlating with the
transition from the immature green stage to the mature red with the highest lycopene content
being quantified in the skin of tomatoes. Having focused on the red ripe stage, we determined
the total antioxidant capacity with two different antioxidant capacity quantification
approaches: FRAP and TEAC methods. As expected, the three varieties demonstrate lower
antioxidant activity progressing from the outer layers of the fruit to the inside (highest
antioxidant activity in the skin), a result strongly correlating with high lycopene content. In
addition, the tomato variety with the highest lycopene content (HA34449 F1 hybrid – cherry)
also demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity.
Fresh tomatoes were used for molecular analysis too, such as RNA isolation using Trizol
protocol and quantification and complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis using the reaction of
reverse transcription. PCR analysis using the house-keeping gene GAPD verified the cDNA
synthesis of each tested sample functioning as an indicator of high RNA quality.
Furthermore, real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated the differential expression of two highly
important genes (SlZDS and SlbLCY) involved in lycopene biosynthesis keeping the
housekeeping gene GAPD as a reference gene.
after potato and undoubtedly the most popular vegetable crop since it is considered to be the
most economically advantageous growing vegetable. The ripe fruit has an intense red color,
because it contains the pigment lycopene, which accounts for approximately 60-74% of the
total content of carotenoids in tomatoes and is considered to be the most effective antioxidant
among the carotenoids through reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. The antioxidant
properties of lycopene contribute greatly to the fruit’s potential anticancer properties. In the
current study we examined samples from three commercial tomato varieties (Hellfrucht,
Brillante Fa 179 and HA34449 F1 hybrid - cherry) in three developmental/ripening stages of
each fruit (immature, breaker and ripe). Using fresh tomatoes and following an analytical
approach an increase in lycopene content was observed in tomatoes correlating with the
transition from the immature green stage to the mature red with the highest lycopene content
being quantified in the skin of tomatoes. Having focused on the red ripe stage, we determined
the total antioxidant capacity with two different antioxidant capacity quantification
approaches: FRAP and TEAC methods. As expected, the three varieties demonstrate lower
antioxidant activity progressing from the outer layers of the fruit to the inside (highest
antioxidant activity in the skin), a result strongly correlating with high lycopene content. In
addition, the tomato variety with the highest lycopene content (HA34449 F1 hybrid – cherry)
also demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity.
Fresh tomatoes were used for molecular analysis too, such as RNA isolation using Trizol
protocol and quantification and complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis using the reaction of
reverse transcription. PCR analysis using the house-keeping gene GAPD verified the cDNA
synthesis of each tested sample functioning as an indicator of high RNA quality.
Furthermore, real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated the differential expression of two highly
important genes (SlZDS and SlbLCY) involved in lycopene biosynthesis keeping the
housekeeping gene GAPD as a reference gene.
Subjects
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