Study of the relationships and diversity in quality and composition of processing tomatoes among Southern European Countries

Abstract

Résumé / Abstract The F1 cultivar "Brigade" of processing tomato was cultivated in the E.U. Mediterranean countries by applying a limited inputs technical itinerary with respect for the environment during three years (1997, 1998 and 1999). The relationships between different parameters of fruit quality and fruit composition, as well as, the diversity of fruit quality and fruit composition among the countries have been investigated. The fruit quality parameters, i.e. nitrates, pH, percent soluble solids (SS), and colour (a, b and L parameters) and the composition parameters of fruit, total N, P2O5, K, Ca, and Mg, in all sites (one in Portugal, two in Spain, one in France, three in Italy and two in Greece) were satisfactory for the industry and the variability of them were considered to be within physiological ranges. There are strong correlations between pH and titratable acidity and between percent SS and reducing sugars, but not between percent SS and colour or between pH and potassium content. Principal Component Analysis showed that the biggest difference of the sites in terms of quality and fruit composition was between Pamplona and Thessaloniki, and then between Evora and Bologna. The highest similarity, was between Evora and Parma, and then between Badajoz and Pyrgos. The biggest contribution of the variables to the diversity of the sites showed in descending order the SS percentage content, the Mg content, the colour parameter "L" and "a" and the total N content.