Influence of photo-selective netting on fruit quality parameters and bioactive compounds in selected tomato cultivars

Tomato fruit quality for fresh consumption is determined by size, colour, firmness, flavour, aroma and nutritional properties. Choice of tomato cultivar is important in terms of fruit quality and bioactive compounds. The aim of this study is to verify the influence of photo-selective nettings on fruit quality and nutritional properties of tomato cultivars. Three types of photo-selective nets (red, yellow and pearl with 40% shading) were compared with commercial black net (25% shading) for fruit quality parameters [firmness, soluble solids concentration, titratable acidity, fruit mass, CIE-Lab colour parameters (L*, a*,b*] bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid, lycopene, beta-carotene, total phenols) and total antioxidant activity in three tomato cultivars (AlfaV, Irit and SCX 248) at harvest. Principle component analysis illustrated cv. AlfaV fruits under black nets were lower in mass, less firm, higher in bioactive compounds and soluble solid concentration (SSC) but lower in titratable acidity (TA) and intense in red colour. However, under pearl nets cv. AlfaV showed higher fruit mass, firmness and moderately higher bioactive compounds. Cultivar SCX 248 fruits under red nets were moderate in size, firmness, and bioactive compounds in comparison to the other nets. Cv. kit fruit under all net types were small, less firm, low SSC, higher in TA while the black nets increased their bioactive compounds. Significant correlations were observed between bioactive compounds and the air temperature and photosynthetic active radiation. Cultivar AlfaV grown under the red net showed higher number of odour active aroma compounds in fruit while yellow nets significantly affected the synthesis of odour active aroma compounds. Pearl and red photoselective nets improved the overall fruit quality; fruit mass, fruit firmness and bioactive components in cv. AlfaV and cv. SCX 248 respectively and can be further implemented within protected cultivation practices. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.