Effect of grafting and harvest stage on the quality of black cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. OG) cultivated in Vietnam

Abstract

Black cherry tomato is an important source of nutraceutical compounds; however, the quality of fruits depends on the cultivation technique and maturity stage at harvest. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of non-grafted and grafted tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. OG) were evaluated at different stages of maturity to observe the effect of grafting on quality of fruits and select the appropriate harvest stage to achieve the highest content of bioactive compounds, especially anthocyanin. The obtained results found that harvesting non-grafted tomatoes on the 30th day after fruit formation would be suitable for storage with the highest anthocyanin level of 4.27 mg CE/100 g and the content of other bioactive compounds (lycopene 24.60 μg/g, vitamin C 42.79 mg/100 g and total phenolic 40.61 mg GAE/100 g). Meanwhile, the optimal harvest stage of grafted tomatoes was shortened, on the 28th day (anthocyanin 4.31 mg CE/100 g, lycopene 38.79 μg/g, vitamin C 55.69 mg/100 g, and total phenolic 38.69 mg GAE/100 g). The grafting technique should be applied for supporting the plant to grow faster as shown by the earlier stage of harvest and the harvested fruit possessed higher content of bioactive compounds.