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[EN] Indirect measurements of taste-related compounds are required when a high number of samples has to be analyzed in a short period of time, with a minimum cost. For this purpose, FT-MIR partial least square (PLS) regression models for the prediction of total soluble solids, sugars and organic acids have been developed using three sample sets including breeding lines and commercial varieties of watermelon. Specific models with excellent performance were obtained only for sugars. Nevertheless, a general model supposed a compromise between the best and worse models and offered %RMSEP values of 11.3%, 11.1% and 11.7% for fructose, glucose and sucrose respectively. The model was applied to the selection of high content samples (selection pressure 20% and 30%) obtaining good sensitivity levels and mean percentile of selected samples close to the expected values (100% sensitivity). The robustness of FT-MIR models was assessed with predictions of external assays, obtaining reasonable performances.

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Ibáñez, Ginés, Mercedes Valcárcel, Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo, and Salvador Roselló. 2019. FT-MIR Determination of Taste-related Compounds in Tomato: A High Throughput Phenotyping Analysis for Selection Programs. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 99 (11). Wiley: 5140 48. doi:10.1002/jsfa.9760, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9760. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.", [EN] BACKGROUND: Tomato taste is defined by the accumulation of sugars and organic acids. Individual analyses of these compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) are expensive, time-consuming and are not feasible for large number of samples, justifying the interest of spectroscopic methods such as Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR). This work analyzed the performance of FT-MIR models to determine the accumulation of sugars and acids, considering the efficiency of models obtained with different ranges of variation. RESULTS: FT-MIR spectra (five-bounce attenuated total reflectance, ATR) were used to obtain partial least squares (PLS) models to predict sugar and acid contents in specific sample sets representing different varietal types. A general model was also developed, obtaining R-2 values for prediction higher than 0.84 for main components (soluble solids content, fructose, glucose, and citric acid). Root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) for these components were lower than 15% of the mean contents and lower than 6% of the highest contents. Even more, the model sensitivity and specificity for those variables with a 10% selection pressure was 100%. That means that all samples with the 10% highest content were correctly identified. The model was applied to an external assay and it exhibited, for main components, high sensitivities (> 70%) and specificities (> 96%). RMSEP values for main compounds were lower than 21% and 13% of the mean and maximum content respectively. CONCLUSION: The models obtained confirm the effectiveness of FT-MIR models to select samples with high contents of taste-related compounds, even when the calibration has not been performed within the same assay. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

[EN] The effect of controlled deficit irrigation (CDI) on the accumulation of carotenoids, polyphenols and l-ascorbic acid was studied in conventional and high lycopene tomato cultivars. Plants were initially irrigated to cover 100%ETc and after the fruit set phase, the dose was reduced to 75% or 50% of ETc. CDI had no significant effect on the accumulation of carotenoids, while it increased the levels of the hydroxycinnamic acids chlorogenic and ferulic acids, the flavonoid rutin and l-ascorbic acid. Nevertheless, there were important interactions and this effect was highly dependent on the year and site of cultivation. Certain growing areas would be more favorable to supply high quality markets, and, fortunately, CDI would maximize polyphenol (100¿75%ETc) and l-ascorbic acid (100¿50%ETc) in these areas. A combination of the best genotype and growing area with CDI would offer high quality products, preserving a scarce resource: water.

Tesis por compendio, Many modern tomato cultivars, in general, do not satisfy the organoleptic expectations of the consumers, as among the selection criteria used, the organoleptic quality has not been prioritized. However, the growing disappointment of consumers with this aspect has placed organoleptic quality as an important breeding objective. The present thesis aims to contribute to fulfil this objective, using the natural variability present in the genus Solanum section Lycopersicon to increase the content in compounds involved in the perception by the taste. Initially, a capillary zone electrophoresis method has been optimized, allowing the simultaneous quantification of organic acids such as oxalic, malic and citric acids and sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose, which determine, to a greater extent, the taste perception in tomatoes, with limits Of detection below 2 and 25 ¿g ml -1 respectively. Its high automation and reproducibility, as well as its simple sample preparation, running time of less than 20 minutes and a low execution cost, have enables its use in the evaluation of organoleptic quality in tomato germplasm. Next, accessions and non-bred varieties of cultivated tomato of different origins, as well as wild and wild-related entries (Solanum lycopersicum, S. pimpinellifolium, S. habrochaites, S. pennellii and S. peruvianum) have been evaluated in order to detect sources of variability potentially useful in breeding programs. Among the materials evaluated there is great variability and very high contents in compounds responsible for tomato taste. Accessions from the Lycopersicon group have been identified, which include the phylogenetically closest wild species to the crop, which nearly triple the contents of sugars and malic acid and double that of citric acid of the commercial varieties taken as control. These accessions will facilitate breeding programs targeted to balanced increases of taste. Although more phylogenetically distant, two accessions of S. habroc, Muchos cultivares modernos de tomate, en general, no satisfacen las expectativas organolépticas de los consumidores, ya que entre los criterios de selección no se ha priorizado la calidad organoléptica. Sin embargo, la creciente decepción de los consumidores con este aspecto ha situado la calidad organoléptica como un importante objetivo de mejora. La presente tesis pretende contribuir al abordaje de este objetivo desde el punto de vista del aprovechamiento de la variabilidad natural presente en el género Solanum sección Lycopersicon para aumentar el contenido en compuestos implicados en la percepción por el gusto. Inicialmente se ha puesto a punto método de electroforesis capilar zonal desarrollado permite cuantificar de forma simultánea ácidos orgánicos como el oxálico, málico y cítrico y azúcares como la glucosa, fructosa y sacarosa que determinan, en mayor medida, la percepción del gusto en tomate con límites de detección inferiores a 2 y 25 ¿g ml-1 respectivamente. Su elevada automatización y reproducibilidad, así como su escasa preparación de muestra, tiempo de carrera inferior a 20 minutos y reducido coste de ejecución, han permitido aplicarlo de forma generalizada en ensayos de evaluación de características de calidad organoléptica en germoplasma de tomate. A continuación, se han evaluado entradas y variedades no mejoradas de tomate cultivado de diferentes orígenes, así como entradas silvestres y de especies silvestres relacionadas (Solanum lycopersicum, S. pimpinellifolium, S. habrochaites, S. pennellii y S. peruvianum) para detectar fuentes de variabilidad potencialmente útiles en la mejora. Entre los materiales recolectados existe gran variabilidad y contenidos muy elevados en compuestos responsables del gusto en tomate. Se han identificado entradas del grupo Lycopersicon, que incluye las especies silvestres filogenéticamente más próximas a la cultivada, que casi triplican los contenidos en azúcares y ácido málico y duplican el de ácido cítrico de las var, Molts cultivars comercials de tomata, en general, no satisfan les expectatives organolèptiques dels consumidors, ja que entre els criteris de selecció no s'ha prioritzat la qualitat organolèptica. No obstant això, la creixent decepció dels consumidors ha situat la qualitat organolèptica com un important objectiu de millora. La present tesi pretén contribuir a l'abordatge d'aquest objectiu des del punt de vista de l'aprofitament de la variabilitat natural present en el gènere Solanum secció Lycopersicon per augmentar el contingut en compostos implicats en la percepció pel gust. Inicialment s'ha posat a punt un mètode d'electroforesi capil·lar zonal que permet quantificar de forma simultània àcids orgànics com l'oxàlic, màlic i cítric i sucres com la glucosa, fructosa i sacarosa que determinen, en major mesura, la percepció del gust en tomata amb límits de detecció inferiors a 2 i 25 mg ml-1 respectivament. La seua elevada automatització i reproductibilitat, així com la seua escassa preparació de mostra, temps de carrera inferior a 20 minuts i reduït cost d'execució, han permès aplicar-lo de forma generalitzada en assajos d'avaluació de característiques de qualitat organolèptica en germoplasma de tomata. A continuació, s'han avaluat entrades i varietats no millorades de tomata cultivada de diferents orígens, així com entrades silvestres i d'espècies silvestres relacionades (Solanum lycopersicum, S. pimpinellifolium, S. habrochaites, S. pennellii i S. peruvianum) per detectar fonts de variabilitat potencialment útils en la millora. Entre els materials avaluats existix gran variabilitat i continguts molt elevats en compostos responsables del gust en tomata. S'han identificat entrades del grup Lycopersicon, que inclou les espècies silvestres filogenèticament més properes a la conreada, que gairebé tripliquen els continguts en sucres i àcid màlic i dupliquen el d'àcid cítric de les varietats comercials preses com a control, el que facilitarà el seu ús en plans de millora

[EN] A methodology for the determination of tomato phenolic acids and flavonoids has been developed combining MEKC and DAD detection. The influence on polyphenol separation of pH and background electrolyte, BGE (borax, acetonitrile, methanol and SDS concentrations), was studied and optimized using response surface methodology and weighted desirability function. Separation of polyphenols was achieved within 20 min at 15 degrees C using 11.3 mM borax and 11.2 mM SDS adjusted to pH 8.5 as BGE. Validation was performed using standards and tomato extracts. Recoveries ranged from 77 to 106%. Acceptable repeatabilities were obtained for peak area (% RSD <3.1% and <3.7%) and migration times (% RSD <0.2% and <1.4%) for intra-and inter-day respectively. Detection limits ranged between 0.8 and 3.8 mg kg (1). Five and seven of these polyphenols were determined in samples of tomato and related species. This methodology will be valuable tool in breeding programs, analyzing a large number of samples. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [FULL CITE], which has been published in final form at [Link to final article using the DOI]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving., [EN] BACKGROUND: The grafting of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) is a common technique that increases yield under stressful soil conditions. Themost common rootstocks for watermelons are Cucurbita hybrids. However, they often have a negative impact on fruit quality. Exploiting novel Citrullus germplasm such as citronmelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) is an alternative to avoid these quality problems. RESULTS: Citron melon has been validated as watermelon rootstock, comparing its effects on watermelon quality to those of Cucurbita hybrids. Larger fruits with thicker rinds were observed in fruits from plants grafted onto both citron and Cucurbita rootstocks. The citron melon had no significant effect on flesh sugars or acid profiles compared to non-grafted watermelons, except for an increase in glucose and malic acid content, which also occurred in the Cucurbita rootstocks. The aroma profile of fruits produced on citron melon was similar to that of the non-grafted and self-grafted controls. The citron rootstock did not display the increased levels of (Z)-6-nonen-1-ol (a compound associated with pumpkin-like odors) found in fruits produced with Cucurbita hybrids. CONCLUSION: The low impact of citron melon rootstock on fruit quality, along with the enhanced resistance against nematodes, make the citron a promising alternative to Cucurbita rootstocks. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry

[EN] The development of varieties with a high content of antioxidant compounds, such as carotenoids, has become a major focus in the marketing of tomato. Several mutants have been used in the development of high pigment varieties, but the significant influence of the environment on carotenoid content and the presence of negative side effects in vegetative growth and yield have limited the success of these variants. Consequently, the identification of alternative sources of variation in the quest for high carotenoid content is ongoing. In this study, 12 accessions of Solanum lycopersicum (including the former var cerasiforme) and S. pimpinelifolium have been evaluated in three different environments: open field and glasshouse cultivation at two sites. Three accessions (BGV6195 of S. pimpinellifolium, LA1423 of the former var cerasiforme and LA3633 a possible hybrid between S. pimpinellifolium and S. lycopersicum) showed outstanding and stable lycopene content, that doubled in all three environments the content of the positive control LA3538, with the high pigment-1 mutation (hp1). In addition, accession CATIE14812 would also be interesting as regards improvement of 13-carotene content. These materials offer new opportunities in the development of tomato varieties with enriched and reliable carotenoid content and the close taxonomic relationship of these accessions with cultivated tomato will facilitate their use in breeding programs.

[EN] The influence of irrigation doses on standard and high lycopene tomato varieties has been analyzed during two years in one of the main processing tomato growing areas of Spain. Deficit irrigation (75% ETc) implied a mean reduction in water use of 28.2%, while it caused a significant reduction in the marketable production of 16.4% and increase insoluble solids (8.4%) and Hunter a/b ratio (2.4%). The effect on lycopene content was not significant. Increasing irrigation dose over the recommended 100% ETc had no significant effect on the agronomical performance, while it provoked a dilution effect reducing total soluble solids and lycopene content. The effects on 33 tomato volatiles were also analyzed, 11 of them related to main aroma notes and 22 to the background volatile profile. The effect of deficit irrigation on aroma was dependant on climatic conditions and it may either not have a significant effect on the aroma profile or may lead to higher logodor units in main aroma volatiles. High lycopene cultivars showed higher contents in most volatiles, including some volatiles originated in pathways that have not been related with carotenoid degradation processes. In both the fresh and processing tomato market the improvement of organoleptic and functional quality and the reduction of the impact of agriculture on environment represent main goals. The use of high lycopene cultivars and restricted irrigation would enhance the aroma of materials targeted to quality markets, contributing to increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2016. 03.042, [EN] The effect of conventional integrated pest management and organic farming production systems on theagronomic performance and quality of standard and high lycopene tomato cvs. has been evaluated fortwo years in two of the main processing tomato producing areas of Spain (Extremadura and Navarra).As an average, the production under organic farming was on average 36% lower than in conventionalintegrated pest management. Organic farming tended show reduced contents of citric and glutamic acid.Although the contents in sugars were not significantly affected, the ratios sucrose equivalents to cit-ric and glutamic acid increased. Nevertheless, a strong influence of the environment and interactionswere detected and under certain conditions (e.g. Extremadura), organic farming may increase the con-tents in glucose and fructose. The levels of lycopene were not affected by the cultivation system, whilebeta-carotene contents were higher under organic farming. High lycopene cvs. Kalvert and ISI-24424' registered the highest lycopene levels, but with 27.6 and 28.1% lower production levels compared to H-9036', the cv. with the best agronomic performance. Kalvert , with high accumulation of sugars andhigh ratios sucrose equivalents to citric and glutamic acid and high lycopene contents would be an idealmaterial for supplying quality markets. H-9997' with intermediated levels of lycopene accumulationproved to be a good material combining production levels and functional quality. CXD-277' offered thehigher values in variables related with organoleptic quality with intermediate lycopene accumulationbut with lower production.

[EN] A diet rich in vegetables has been associated with a reduced risk of many diseases related to aging and modern lifestyle. Over the past several decades, many researches have pointed out the direct relation between the intake of bioactive compounds present in tomato and a reduced risk of suffering different types of cancer. These bioactive constituents comprise phytochemicals such as carotenoids and polyphenols. The direct intake of these chemoprotective molecules seems to show higher efficiencies when they are ingested in its natural biological matrix than when they are ingested isolated or in dietary supplements. Consequently, there is a growing trend for improvement of the contents of these bioactive compounds in foods. The control of growing environment and processing conditions can ensure the maximum potential accumulation or moderate the loss of bioactive compounds, but the best results are obtained developing new varieties via plant breeding. The modification of single steps of metabolic pathways or their regulation via conventional breeding or genetic engineering has offered excellent results in crops such as tomato. In this review, we analyse the potential of tomato as source of the bioactive constituents with cancer-preventive properties and the result of modern breeding programs as a strategy to increase the levels of these compounds in the diet.

The optimization of tomato taste has gained importance during the last years following consumer demands of higher quality. At the same time consumers also demand a minimum impact on the environment during cultivation. The effect of conventional and organic cultivation on the sugar and acid profile of processing cultivars has been studied in the two main growing regions in Spain. Standard and high lycopene cultivars have been used in order to study the possibility of combining organoleptic and functional quality. High differences in the acid profile (malic vs. citric) and in the sugar accumulation of the cultivars were found. In some cases, the higher values in the content of taste-related compounds coincide with previously described high lycopene contents. The cultivation system had no significant effect on malic and citric acid accumulation, but it affected sugar accumulation and the sucrose equivalents (SEq) to citric and glutamic acid ratios. On average, 7.7 and 10.4% higher contents of glucose and fructose respectively were obtained with the organic cultivation system. The SEq to citric acid and SEq to glutamic acid ratios were consequently higher with this system (8.3 and 46.3% respectively). Organic cultivation of high lycopene cultivars might be an excellent selection to combine high organoleptic and functional quality targeted to quality markets.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with photodiode array detection has been developed enabling the joint determination of 17 prominent flavonoids and phenolic acids in vegetables and fruits. A multi-segmented gradient program using a fused-core column for the separation of several phenolic classes (phenolic acids and flavonoids) has been optimised. The influence of extraction conditions (sample freeze-drying, ultrasound extraction, solvent composition and extraction time) has been also optimised using response surface methodology with tomato samples as a model. Complete recoveries (76-108%) were obtained for the phenolic compounds present in tomato. The developed method provided satisfactory repeatability in terms of peak area (RSD < 2.9%) and retention time (RSD < 0.2%) both for standards and real samples. Detection limits ranged between 3 and 44 mu g kg(-1) for the detected polyphenols. This method is recommended for routine analysis of large number of samples typical of production quality systems or plant breeding programs.

Processing tomatoes are one of the most important crops in the agricultural and food industry of the Ebro Valley, covering at present a total surface area of 2,500 ha. The aim of this study was to analyse the agronomic behaviour of different all flesh cultivars of processing tomato in Navarra. The trials were conducted between 2011 and 2012 at the experimental farm run by the Instituto Navarro de Tecnologías e Infraestructuras Agroalimentarias (INTIA) in Cadreita, southern Navarra. Seven cultivars of processing tomato were tested in the field, five all flesh cultivars and two cultivars employed as controls. The commercial yield and mean weight of the fruit were recorded during harvesting. The fruit quality parameters measured were pH, °Brix and Hunter-scale colour (a/b). In relation to industrial quality, no significant differences were observed between the cultivars in any of the parameters analysed. Although all flesh cultivars are less productive than the cultivars commonly used by farmers in Navarra, they generally offer better industrial quality characteristics and contribute to satisfying current consumer demands for a wider diversity of products.

The original publication is available at www.actahort.org, [EN] Water deficit on tomato taste-related components was studied in standard and high lycopene cultivars. The treatment was applied once the fruits were set to avoid drastic effects on yield. Despite applying considerable reductions in water doses down to 50% ETc, the contents of fructose, malic and citric acid remained unaffected. Only glucose concentration increased with lower irrigation doses in one of the locations used for the study. The cultivar effect has a major impact in taste-related components, which might be shaded by location effects. Deficit irrigation during the last part of the growing cycle may contribute to a better water management while offering little or positive effects on the taste profile of processing tomato cultivars.

[EN] The structure of Spanish landraces of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L) has been analyzed. This diversity has been evaluated using agro-morphological characteristics (43 descriptors), quality parameters (solid soluble contents and individual sugars and organic acids) and DNA markers (amplified fragment length polymorphisms, AFLP). A wide range of variation was found for all traits but in the DNA marker level. Certain common characteristics could be identified in populations of the same landrace in several of the dimensions analyzed, but generally, an overlap of the spectrum of variation of different landraces was found. The results indicate that in each landrace the populations are strongly selected using very basic morphological characteristics such as fruit shape, colour or ribbing, while other traits vary depending on each farmer preferences. Seed mixing and pollen contamination might introduce variation which would be purged by farmers at the morphological level, but would be maintained in quality and yield traits. Despite the introduction of spurious variation it would be still possible to identify certain relations between quality attributes and the morphological traits defining specific landraces. The existence of a wide level of variation in plant yield and quality profiles enables the development of selection programmes targeted to provide farmers with materials with economically viable yield and excellent organoleptic quality. The results also highlight the necessity to stress the efforts in morpho-agronomical and quality characterization over molecular characterization in the ex situ management of these resources, as well as not to underestimate the importance of intra-varietal variability. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The genotypic potential for high l-ascorbic acid content of 15 accessions of S. lycopersicon and S. pimpinellifolium has been evaluated in three environments, including open-air and glasshouse cultivation and two localities. The environmental effect on l-ascorbic acid accumulation was highly genotype-dependant and the variance ascribed to the G×E environment was similar in importance to that ascribed to genotype. The variation found within accession might be ascribed to microenvironmental effects associated with temperature changes and oxidative stress or population variability. Several accessions with high genotypic values (¿+G) have been identified. Among them, accession PI365959 of S. pimpinellifolium, showed a genotypic value of 293.8mgkg -1, statistically significant higher (P<0.05) than the genotypic potential of controls reported to have high l-ascorbic content (CDP4777, 115.0mgkg -1). It also showed positive G×E interactions, with a relatively high stability. Accession LA1423 of S. lycopersicon var. cerasiforme, despite being less stable, had also high genotypic values for l-ascorbic acid accumulation (197.4mgkg -1). This germplasm will be of great interest for the development of new tomato cultivars targeted to added-value markets appreciating nutritional or functional quality. The close relationship of the selected material with the cultivated tomato will enable an efficient and rapid exploitation of their potential in breeding programmes. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

[EN] BACKGROUND: Tomatoes are an important source of antioxidants (carotenoids, vitamin C, etc.) owing to their high level of consumption. There is great interest in developing cultivars with increased levels of lycopene, beta-carotene or L-ascorbic acid. There is necessary to survey new sources of variation. In this study, the potential of improvement for each character in tomato breeding programmes, in a single or joint approach, and the nature of genotype (G), environment (E) and G x E interaction effects in the expression of these characters were investigated. RESULTS: The content of lycopene, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid determined was very high in some phenotypes (up to 281, 35 and 346 mg kg(-1) respectively). The important differences in the three environments studied (with some stressing conditions in several situations) had a remarkable influence in the phenotypic expression of the functional characters evaluated. Nevertheless, the major contribution came from the genotypic effect along with a considerable G x E interaction. CONCLUSION: The joint accumulation of lycopene and beta-carotene has a high genetic component. It is possible to select elite genotypes with high content of both carotenoids in tomato breeding programmes but multi-environment trials are recommended. The improvement of ascorbic acid content is more difficult because the interference of uncontrolled factors mask the real genetic potential. Among the accessions evaluated, there are four accessions with an amazing genetic potential for functional properties that can be used as donor parents in tomato breeding programmes or for direct consumption in quality markets. (C) 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

The postharvest evolution of Penjar tomatoes has been studied in four accessions representative of the variability of the varietal type. The long-term shelf life of these materials, which carry the alc allele, was confirmed with 31.2-59.1% of commercial fruits after 6 months of effective conservation at room temperature and a limited loss of weight (21.1-27.9%). Aroma in Penjar tomatoes is differentiated from other tomato varieties by a characteristic 'sharp-floral' aroma descriptor. The evolution of the 'sharp-floral' aroma during postharvest showed a peak of intensity at 2 months of postharvest, though in one accession a delay of 2 months in this response was detected. Out of 25 volatiles analysed, including main and background notes, a reverse iPLS variable selection revealed that the main candidates behind this aromatic behaviour are ¿-terpineol, trans-2-hexenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, trans-2-octenal, ¿-pinene, ß-ionone, 2 + 3-methylbutanol and phenylacetaldehyde. Between harvest and 2 months postharvest, most compounds reduced considerably their concentration, while the intensity of the 'sharp-floral' descriptor increased, which means that probably there is a rearrangement of the relative concentrations among volatiles that may lead to masking/unmasking processes. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

[EN] An additive-dominance, additive 9 additive (ADAA) and genotype 9 environment interaction mix model was used to study the genetic control of beta-carotene and L-ascorbic acid in six basic generations (P-1, P-2, F-1, F-2, BC1P1 and BC1P2) of tomato derived from the cross CDP8779 accession (Solanum lycopersicum L.) x CDP4777 accession (S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The study was performed in two environments: (1) open field; (2) protected environment, consisting of hydroponic cultivation in a glasshouse. The results indicate that beta-carotene accumulation was mainly additive (32.2% of the genetic component), with a small dominant component (4.2%) and an important additive x environment interaction contribution (63.6%). In target environments with moderate to high temperatures and no limiting radiation, this the expression additive x environment interaction could substantially enhance the beta-carotene content. This trait showed also a high narrow-sense heritability (h(2) = 0.62). Ascorbic acid accumulation was also mainly additive (61.7% of the genetic component), with a minor additive epistatic component (21.5%). This epistatic effect caused a negative heterosis that reduced the positive main additive effect. Nevertheless, in the described target environments, the additive 9 environment interaction contribution (16.8%) may enhance the ascorbic acid content and compensate for the negative heterosis effect. The total narrow-sense heritability of this trait can be considered useful (h(2) = 0.52). In conclusion, the CDP4777 accession is a very interesting donor parent for the joint improvement of beta-carotene (without diminishing lycopene content) and ascorbic acid content in commercial nutraceutical tomato breeding programmes; the F-1 hybrids derived from this accession showed nearly 450% of the commonly reported average beta-carotene content and close to 130% of the ascorbic acid content of the female parent.

[EN] Taste and aroma related compounds have been analyzed in a collection of four traditional varieties and two tomato hybrids, representing a wide variability in fruit shape and color, grown in different environments: screenhouse and open field. Protected cultivation tended to show lower sugar concentration (fructose and glucose) but similar acid contents (citric, malic, and glutamic acids). The decreased levels of sucrose equivalents and the similar ratios of sucrose equivalents to citric or glutamic acid contents indicated that protected cultivation, despite being useful to reduce the incidence of pests and viral diseases, reduces the organoleptic quality. Additionally, it doubles the interaccession variability and increased the level of intra-accession variability. In the case of aroma, the genotypic effect was considerably higher than the environmental component on the 12 main volatiles analyzed. Only hexanal and methyl salicylate were significantly affected by environment, while 10 out of 12 volatiles were affected by the genotype. Biplot analysis showed that, even in considerably different environments, it is possible to identify genotype-dependent main aroma profiles. In the case of 13 background volatiles, the environment showed no significant effects and the genotypic effect was lower, though it is possible to identify genotypic trends in background notes.

Recientemente se ha demostrado la importancia de las vitaminas y carotenoides del tomate en la prevención de enfermedades degenerativas, por lo que resultaría de gran interés mejorar el contenido de estos compuestos en dicha hortaliza. Pero para iniciar un programa de mejora se deberían cumplir los siguientes objetivos: (i) estudiar la variabilidad presente en germoplasma de Solanum, (ii) ver la influencia del ambiente en estos caracteres, (iii) estudio del control genético de dichos caracteres en las entradas seleccionadas y (iv) aumentar la rapidez y precisión de la cuantificación de los carotenoides. En esta tesis se ha puesto de manifiesto la gran variabilidad presente en germoplasma de tomate, que podría usarse tanto como parentales donantes de alta acumulación de compuestos funcionales (la entrada BGV8166), como directamente en campo aumentando la agrobiodiversidad (unas 20 entradas entre tomate común y cherry con un mayor contenido que el considerado normal para tomate cultivado). Además, se evaluaron 10 entradas preseleccionadas como potencialmente interesantes en 3 ambientes de cultivo, cuyas diferencias tuvieron una influencia destacable en la expresión fenotípica de los caracteres analizados. Sin embargo, el efecto genotípico tuvo la mayor contribución al fenotipo junto a una considerable interacción con el ambiente. Entre las entradas evaluadas, destacaron: CDP1568, CDP7090 y CDP9822 de S. pimpinellifolium que podrán usarse como parentales donantes en la mejora del contenido de carotenoides del tomate cultivado y la entrada CDP4777 (S.lycopersicon var cerasifome) con alto potencial genotípico y estabilidad para acumular (beta)-caroteno y ácido ascórbico. De estas entradas, se seleccionó la CDP4777 por ser de la misma especie que el tomate cultivado, para analizar con detalle su control genético en la acumulación de (beta)-caroteno y ácido ascórbico. Los resultados indicaron que la acumulación de (beta)-caroteno derivada de CDP4777 fue principalmente de c