Lycopene Concentration of Tomato Fruit can be Estimated from Chromaticity Values

Chromaticity values (L*, a*, b*) of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. 'Celebrity', 'Early Pick', and 'Mountain Delight') were measured using a Minolta CR- 200b tristimulus colorimeter. Lycopene concentrations in acetone extracts of skin disks or pericarp plugs were measured spectrophometrically at 503 nm. The L* or a* value was related to lycopene concentration in all the cultivars; however, the ratio of (a*/ b*) 2 provided the best R 2