DNA Fingerprinting and Quality Traits of Corbarino Cherry-like Tomato Landraces

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2004-06, Vol.52 (11), p.3366-3371
• Main Authors: Andreakis, Nikos, Giordano, Italo, Pentangelo, Alfonso, Fogliano, Vincenzo, Graziani, Giulia, Monti, Luigi Maria, Rao, Rosa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agronomic traits; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; canning quality; carbohydrate content; carotenoids; crop yield; cultivars; DNA Fingerprinting; food composition; Food industries; food processing quality; Fruit - anatomy & histology; Fruit - chemistry; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic variation; landraces; Lycopersicon esculentum; Lycopersicon esculentum - classification; Lycopersicon esculentum - genetics; Nutritive Value; plant morphology; Solanum lycopersicum var. lycopersicum; soluble solids; tomato shape; tomatoes; varieties
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf049963y

Twenty-five landraces of the cherry-like tomato named Corbarino, a typical niche product grown in the Sarno valley of the Campania region, have been characterized. The landraces used have been compared to eight cultivars widely spread in the same area of cultivation. The genetic diversity within and between landraces was evaluated through the comparison of DNA fingerprints obtained with (GATA)4 probe hybridized to TaqI digested genomic DNA. Twenty-two of the Corbarino landraces were homogeneous and were unequivocally characterized by their DNA fingerprints. The others are probably “population varieties” in that within each of them polymorphic DNA fragments were identified. According to the characterization of fruit shapes, four groups were identified. One landrace from each group, harvested at the same ripening degree, was further characterized for yield, fruit quality components, antioxidant activities, and carotenoid contents and compared to Faino F1 and Tomito F1 hybrids. The Corbarino landraces were all characterized by high yield, a high level of carbohydrates, and high levels of soluble and total solids. Interestingly, the biotype named ISCI 05 was the most suitable for canning. Landraces ISCI 07 and ISCI 05 gave the highest value of antioxidant activities and carotenoid content. These data, together with previously published results, suggested that ISCI 05 should be proposed for the institution of a Label of Origin. Keywords: Antioxidants; carotenoid content; genetic variability