Evaluation Of Proximate Composition, Lycopene Content, Betacarotene Content And DNA Quality Profiling In Tomato Varieties, Lycopersicon Esculentum (Mill.)

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is a nutritionally important vegetable widely cultivated in Nigeria. This study evaluated nineteen tomato varieties for proximate composition, antioxidant content (lycopene and β-carotene), and DNA quality to provide a comprehensive assessment of their nutritional and molecular attributes. The nineteen tomato varieties were obtained from the tomato germplasm collection of the National Center for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRABB), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Standard methods were used for proximate, lycopene and β-carotene analysis while DNA quality was assessed using UV spectrophotometry and agarose gel electrophoresis. Moisture content ranged from 74.69 - 90.66%, Ash content from 1.99-5.36%, Fat content from 0.74 -3.86%, Crude Fiber  from 0.74 -5.62%, Crude Protein from 2.59 - 7.06% and Carbohydrate from 0.85 - 7.70%. The lycopene content ranged from 3.020mg/100g to 31.629mg/100g while the β-carotene content ranged from 8.566 to 45.276mg/100g. The DNA quality ratios ranged between 1.457 and 2.000. Varieties: NGB02691, NGB02695, NGB05075, NGB00697, and NGB00707 were outstanding interms of moisture content implying a prolonged period of storage; NGB02691, NGB02695, NGB00697, NGB00707 and Platinum 701F1 were outstanding in terms of β-carotene content while NGB00749, NGB00746 and Diva F1 were outstanding in terms of lycopene content. These tomato varieties with lower level of moisture content, high level of β-carotene and lycopene content can be improved upon through hybridization in tomato breeding programmes. Regular consumption of tomatoes in whatever form should be encouraged due to their antioxidant properties and as a major precursor of provitamin A, which is a vital for improved eye health.