Evaluation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Parents and Hybrids for Suitability in Puree and Paste Preparation

A set of 18 F1 hybrids developed as a result of line x tester mating design involving six lines and three testers were evaluated in completely randomized block design in three replications for their suitability to prepare tomato paste and puree. The highest ascorbic acid content of paste and puree was recorded by the parent LE-56 (76.20 mg/100 g and 49.40 mg/100 g) followed by Punjab Chhuhara (74.62 mg/100 g and 44.20 mg/100 g). The hybrid LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (88.45 mg/100 g and 55.36 mg/100 g), LE-56 × Pusa Gaurav (84.40 mg/100 g and 58.64 mg/100 g), LE-56 × Pant T-3 (82.32 mg/100 g and 57.24 mg/100 g) and LE-64 × Punjab chhuhara (80.54 mg/100 g and 54.42 mg/100 g). Considering the lycopene content and total carotenoid content, the parent LE-64 (21.79 mg/100 g and 14.50 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 22.40 mg/100 g and 16.03 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content) recorded the highest paste and puree followed by LE-65 (20.68 mg/100 g and 13.24 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 22.46 mg/100 g and 15.38 mg/100 g for total carotenoids) and Punjab Chhuhara (20.90 mg/100 g and 13.20 mg/100 g for lycopene and 21.86 mg/100 g and 15.44 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content). The hybrids LE-56 × Punjab Chhuhara (25.86 mg/100 g and 16.80 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 26.95 mg/100 g and 17.96 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content), LE-64 × Punjab Chhuhara (23.70 mg/100 g and 15.40 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 24.95 mg/100 g and 14.98 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content), LE-62 × Punjab Chhuhara (23.20 mg/100 g and 14.98 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 24.84 mg/100 g and 16.36 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content) and LE-65 × Pusa Gurav (22.43 mg/100 g and 14.60 mg/100 g for lycopene content and 24.26 mg/100 g and 16.65 mg/100 g for total carotenoid content)