Fluctuations in sugar content are not determinant in explaining variations in vitamin C in tomato fruit.
The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between sugars and vitamin C in fruit. The objective was to determine whether vitamin C content was regulated by sugar content due to the role of sugar as a precursor for vitamin C. During summer, maximal content in sugar and vitamin C were found in both genotypes tested Solanum lycopersicon 'Cervil' and 'Levovil'. During autumn, fruit pruning increased fruit size and hexose content but fruit vitamin C content did not increase. Therefore sugar substrate was not limiting for vitamin C synthesis during autumn. We demonstrated for two cultivars, 'Cervil' and 'Levovil', with different sugar accumulation profiles during ripening, that sugar content was not determinant in the regulation of vitamin C content. The strong correlation observed between sugars and vitamin C in 'Cervil' was due to their concomitant increase during fruit ripening.
Massot
Capucine
C
INRA UR 1115 Plantes et Systèmes de Culture Horticoles, Domaine St Paul, Site Agroparc, F-84914 Avignon, France.
Génard
Michel
M
Stevens
Rebecca
R
Gautier
Hélène
H
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005838:Genotype; D006601:Hexoses / Q000378:metabolism; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
D002241:Carbohydrates; D006601:Hexoses; D013395:Sucrose; D013213:Starch; D001205:Ascorbic Acid