Fruit mineral nutrient contents of field and greenhouse grown tomatoes and comparison with standard values

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a significant member of the Solanaceae family with substantial worldwide production. The nutritional content of vegetables affects their metabolic and quality characteristics positively or negatively in many aspects and is one of today’s important research areas. In this study, grown tomato samples collected from fields and greenhouses in nine different cities of Türkiye were analysed for boron, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, and zinc concentrations using spectroscopy, compared with available studies in terms of fertilization/nutrient uptake status and it was decided whether there is a difference between tomato samples grown in the field and the greenhouse. The study revealed that there are differences between macro and microelement contents of the field and greenhouse-grown tomatoes. Greenhouse tomatoes have greater nutritional element contents since they are protected from external effects and pesticides, growing in a healthy and nutritionally rich manner. The lowest and highest concentrations (mg kg-1 dry weight) of mineral elements were boron (18.13-28.30), calcium (1277-1836), copper (4.60-9.45), iron (18.86-27.33), potassium (20384-22305), magnesium (1870-2107), manganese (10.12-23.27), Sodium (119.65-209.11) and zinc (15.55-25.41). As a result, tomatoes produced in Türkiye for export to various countries were found to be containing adequate macronutrients according to the relevant literature except for potassium, and micronutrients contents were found to be within the safe limits. Also, considering the percentage of daily Recommended Dietary Allowance values it provides, it can be said that tomatoes are a good source of micronutrients.