Analytical Procedures for Detecting Carotenoids of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) Roots and Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) Fruits1

Abstract

A procedure for carotenoid analysis which has practical application to genetic and breeding research is outlined. It includes extraction, separation of total carotenoids by partition on a silica column into carotene and xanthophylls, and the separation of the carotene fraction into specific pigments using thin-layer chromatography. The relative concn of specific pigments in the carotene fraction was measured using a semi-quantitative technique: Four genetic lines of carrot and four tomato cultivars were analyzed. Wide differences between carrot lines were detected in total carotenoids and the relative concn of the various pigments. The tomato cultivars differed considerably in total carotenoids. The ratios of pigments (pigment pattern) of red tomato were almost identical to that of the red carrot cultivar, Kintoki.