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Effect of Post-harvest UV-B Irradiation on Polyphenol Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Flesh and Peel of Tomato Fruits

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Abstract

In the present study, the possibility of enhancing phenolic and flavonoid concentration in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits by post-harvest irradiation with UV-B light was assessed. Fruits of the commercial cv Money Maker (MM) and the mutant genotype high pigment-1 (hp-1), constitutively rich in these compounds, were harvested at mature green and turning stages and left to ripen within climatic chambers where they were daily treated with UV-B radiation (1 h, 6.08 kJ/m2 day). In control chambers, UV-B radiation was screened by benzophenone-treated polyethylene film. The treatment was generally effective in increasing phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol concentration in both peel and flesh of MM and hp-1 fruits, although in this latter the positive response to UV-B treatment was mainly evident in fruits harvested at mature green stage. Following UV-B treatment, antioxidant activity increased in the peel of both genotypes independently from the harvesting stage and in the flesh of hp-1 fruits harvested at mature green stage. Hydroxycinnamic acids of both genotypes reacted to UV-B treatment differently depending on harvesting stage and tissue localisation, generally showing an increase in the peel of fruits harvested at mature green stage. With few exceptions, UV-B irradiation also induced a higher accumulation of individual flavonoids both in the peel and in the flesh of MM and hp-1 fruits independently from harvesting stage. Based on these results, UV-B irradiation can be considered a promising technique to increase the nutraceutical potential of tomato fruits by non-molecular tools.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research, COST Action FA0906: “UV-B radiation: A specific regulator of plant growth and food quality in a changing climate” and by funds of the University of Pisa and University of Parma. The Tomato Genetics Resource Center (University of California, Davis, CA) is acknowledged for providing tomato seeds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, Università di Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Antonella Castagna & Annamaria Ranieri

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 59/A, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Chiara Dall’Asta, Emma Chiavaro & Gianni Galaverna

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  1. Antonella Castagna
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  2. Chiara Dall’Asta
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  4. Gianni Galaverna
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  5. Annamaria Ranieri
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Correspondence to Annamaria Ranieri.

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Castagna, A., Dall’Asta, C., Chiavaro, E. et al. Effect of Post-harvest UV-B Irradiation on Polyphenol Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Flesh and Peel of Tomato Fruits. Food Bioprocess Technol 7, 2241–2250 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-013-1214-5

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