Influence of Sampling Time and Position on the Lycopene Contents in Different Tomato Cultivars

The influence of sampling time and position on the contents of lycopene in different cultivar tomato(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) was studied. The result showed that there were influential in the contents of lycopene in different cultivar tomato, different maturity stage and different sampling site of tomato. The contents of lycopene in cherry tomato cultivars were significant more than that in the large-fruit type tomato cultivars. The contents of lycopene in red-big tomatoes were more than that in the pink ones, but not significant. The contents of lycopene in tomato peel were more than that in tomato pulp. The synthesis rate of the lycopene in tomato peel was faster than that in tomato pulp. The synthesis rate of the lycopene in post-red-ripe stage was the fastest, and then in over-ripe stage. The contents of lycopene in post-red-ripe stage were almost as much as that in over-ripe stage.