Comparative physiology during ripening in tomato rich-anthocyanins fruits

Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) is a very important fruit vegetable with high economic importance and nutritional impact on the consumers worldwide. Moreover, tomato fruits are an important source of nutraceutical compounds. This work describes the physiological diversity affecting the ripening process that yields variation in fruit pigmentation with regard to anthocyanins compounds for one non-anthocyanin-accumulating (Ailsa Craig) and two anthocyanin-accumulating tomato genotypes (anthocyanin fruit type, low pigment accumulation, and Sun Black, high pigment accumulation). Using tomato fruits obtained by traditional breeding the present study reported modified hormone equilibrium at different ripening stages. This phenomenon can be considered as a consequence of the different pattern in the anthocyanins accumulation in fruits. Moreover, the fruit genotype showing the highest pigment accumulation appear more firm at the commercial stage. Overall, these results showed the considerable potential of exploiting natural genetic diversity to obtain tomatoes with higher levels of anthocyanins, and different quality traits such as colour and firmness.