COMPARISON OF ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT IN IMPORTED TOMATOES AND IN CULTIVARS GROWN IN NOVA SCOTIA

Abstract

The ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content of fresh imported field tomatoes and Nova Scotia greenhouse and field tomatoes was determined on a bi-weekly basis during the period of availability of each type of tomato to the Nova Scotia consumer in 1984. The average ascorbic acid contents of imported and Nova Scotia field and greenhouse tomatoes were 13.3, 16.7 and 17.7 mg 100 g−1 fresh weight, respectively. A study of nine recommended or promising field tomatoes for the Atlantic region showed significant differences in ascorbic acid content among the cultivars. The cultivar Quick Pick had the highest ascorbic acid content of 22.5 ± 1.5 mg 100 g−1, the cultivar Campbell 18 had the lowest content, 12.0 ± 2.9 mg 100 g−1. In Dombito greenhouse tomatoes the stage of maturity and the effect of cluster location were tested against ascorbic acid content. The lowest ascorbic acid content of 9.1 ± 1.0 mg 100 g−1 was found with the small green tomatoes while others from mature green to overripe contained 14.0–16.7 mg 100 g−1. Tomatoes from different cluster locations showed no significant difference in ascorbic acid content.Key words: Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid, tomatoes