Correlation between biochemical composition and flesh color of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.): comparative analysis of pink and red-fruited F1 hybrids with intense flesh color in conditions of film greenhouses of Southern Russia

Posted on 19.08.2026 by admin
UDC 635.64: 543.9
https: //doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2026.19.38.008

Gavrish S.F., Redichkina T.A., Skhinas M.S., Sushkova A.A.

The article presents the results of a study on the patterns of flesh color formation in tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.) among F1 hybrids of pink‑fruited and red‑fruited forms, as well as an analysis of the relationship between color intensity and the content of key biochemical components: soluble solids, sugars, organic acids, β‑carotene, and lycopene. The research was conducted at the Crimean Breeding Center of the Scientific and Production Association “Gavrish” (Krasnodar Krai) in unheated film greenhouses during 2023–2024. The study focused on F1 hybrids developed from breeding material provided by LLC “NPO Gavrish”, with control samples including the red‑fruited cultivar Bountice and the pink‑fruited cultivar Pink Idee. Flesh color intensity was assessed both visually (using a 1–3 score scale) and instrumentally using a Linshan colorimeter (a/b ratio). It was found that the colorimetric a/b ratio in pink‑fruited hybrids was on average higher (7.9) than in red‑fruited ones (6.5). For pink‑fruited hybrids, a high positive correlation was identified between the colorimetric a/b value (reflecting red-to-yellow chromatic component ratio) and the content of soluble solids (rp =0.78; p<0.001), as well as a statistically significant high positive correlation with β‑carotene content (rp =0.88; p<0.001). In red‑fruited hybrids, the correlations were weaker: a moderate positive correlation between a/b and soluble solids (rs =0.65; p<0.01) and a weak positive correlation with lycopene (rs =0.45; p<0.05). Total acidity in both groups showed a weak negative correlation with color intensity (a/b). Promising hybrids were identified: pink‑fruited F1 k‑3857/23 and F1 k‑3854/23 (a/b = 8.7), with high levels of β‑carotene (3.6 mg/100 g and 3.4 mg/100 g) and lycopene (9.4 mg/100 g and 9.2 mg/100 g); red‑fruited F1 k‑4146/23 (a/b = 7.1), with the highest lycopene content (14.5 mg/100 g).

Key words: tomatoes, carotenoids, lycopene, β-carotene, biochemical composition, colorimetry, breeding, F1 hybrids.

Gavrish S.F., DSci (Agr.), professor, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GAVRISH.

Sushkova A.A. (author for correspondence, research fellow, NGO Gavrish LLC, applicant at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVC). E-mail: sushkova-nastyusha89@gmail.com

Redichkina T.A., Cand. Sci. (Agr.), director of NIISOK LLC.

Skhinas M.S., research fellow at the Gavrish R&D Center, applicant at Kuban State Agrarian University.

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For citing: Correlation between biochemical composition and flesh color of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.): comparative analysis of pink and red-fruited F1 hybrids with intense flesh color in conditions of film greenhouses of Southern Russia. Gavrish S.F., Redichkina T.A., Skhinas M.S., Sushkova A.A. Potato and vegetables. No5. 2025. Pp. 54–60. https: //doi.org/10.25630/PAV.2026.19.38.008. (In Russ.).

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