Formation of furan from carbohydrates and ascorbic acid following exposure to ionizing radiation and thermal processing

This study was conducted to investigate the formation of furan from sugars, ascorbic acid, and organic acids as affected by ionizing radiation and thermal treatments. Results showed that both thermal treatments and irradiation induced formation of furan from ascorbic acid, fructose, sucrose, or glucose. Little furan was produced from malic acid or citric acid. The pH and concentration of sugars and ascorbic acid solutions had profound influences on furan formation due to either irradiation or thermal treatment. The rate of irradiation-induced furan formation increased with decreasing pH from 8 to 3. Approximately 1600 times less furan was formed at pH 8 as apposed to pH 3. At the same pHs, the amounts of furan formed from irradiation of ascorbic acid, fructose, and sucrose were always higher than from glucose. As pH decreased from 7 to 3, an increase in thermally induced furan was observed for sucrose and ascorbic acid solutions, but for glucose solution, less furan was formed at pH 3 than at pH 7. The levels of sugars commonly found in fruits and fruit juices, upon irradiation, would be high enough to potentially produce low parts per billion (ppb) levels of furan. The concentration of ascorbic acid at which a maximum of furan was produced upon irradiation was about 0.5 mg/mL, a level commonly found in some foods. Five furan derivatives were tentatively identified in thermally treated ascorbic acid solution, while one furan derivative was tentatively found in both irradiated and thermally treated samples.     

Processing effects on the composition of sea buckthorn juice from Hippophae rhamnoides L. Cv. Indian Summer.

Sea buckthorn juice is one product that can be derived from the sea buckthorn berry, a new alternative crop for the Canadian western provinces. Fresh pressed juice separates into three phases when allowed to stand overnight in the refrigerator: an upper cream phase, juice in the middle portion, and a sediment at the bottom. Enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial, broad spectrum carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme preparations reduced the juice viscosity, assisted juice separation, and provided an opalescent juice. Soluble solids averaged 10.2 degrees Brix, pH averaged 3.13, ascorbic acid averaged 174.2 mg/100 mL, and titratable acidity averaged 1.97% as malic acid all determined on centrifuged (10 000 rpm, 15 min) juice. Soluble sugars included glucose, fructose, and an unidentified component that was not sucrose or other common soluble monomeric or dimeric sugar. Quinic acid was quantitatively most important, while malic was next, and oxalic, citric, and tartaric acids were minor components. Washing berries by dipping reduced soluble solids (degrees Brix) in juice suggesting uptake of wash water.     

Quantitation of N2-[1-(1-carboxy)ethyl]folic acid, a nonenzymatic glycation product of folic acid, in fortified foods and model cookies by a Stable isotope dilution assay

A stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) for the quantitation of N(2)-[1-(carboxy)ethyl]folic acid (CEF) has been developed by using [(2)H(4)]CEF as the internal standard. After sample cleanup by anion exchange chromatography, the three-dimensional specifity of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry enabled unequivocal determination of the nonenzymatic glycation product of folic acid (FA). When CEF was added to cornstarch, the detection limit for CEF was found to be 0.4 microg/100 g, and a recovery of 98.5% was determined. In analyses of cookies, the intra-assay coefficient of variation was 8.0% (n = 5). Application of the SIDA to commercial cookies produced from wheat flour fortified with FA revealed CEF contents of up to 7.1 microg/100 g, which accounted for approximately 10-20% of the cookies' FA content. In baby foods, multivitamin juices, and multivitamin sweets, however, CEF was not detectable. Further studies on CEF formation during baking of cookies made from fortified flour and different carbohydrates revealed that fructose was most effective in generating CEF followed by glucose, lactose, and sucrose with 12.5, 3.9, 2.5, and 2.5 microg/100 g of dry mass, respectively. During baking, approximately 50% of FA was retained for both monosaccharides fructose and glucose, and 77% as well as 85% of its initial content was retained for the disaccharides lactose and sucrose, respectively. Of the degraded amount of FA, CEF comprised 28% for fructose as well as 18, 12, and 8% for sucrose, lactose, and glucose, respectively. Therefore, CEF can be considered an important degradation product of FA in baked foods made from fructose. To retain a maximum amount of FA, products should rather be baked with sucrose than with reducing carbohydrates.     

Furan formation in sugar solution and apple cider upon ultraviolet treatment

Furan is a possible human carcinogen induced by thermal processing of food. While ultraviolet C (UVC) is used to decontaminate apple cider and to sterilize sugar solutions, it is unknown whether UVC induces furan formation in cider or solutions of its major components. This study was conducted to investigate the possible formation of furan by UVC in apple cider and in solutions of common constituents of apple cider. Our results showed that UVC treatment induced furan formation in apple cider, and the major source of furan was apparently fructose. UVC treatment (at incident doses up to 9 J/cm (2)) of fructose solutions produced a higher amount of furan, while very low concentrations of furan were induced by UVC in glucose or sucrose solutions, and virtually no furan was induced by UVC from solutions of ascorbic acid or malic acid. When an isotope (d(4)-furan) of furan was treated with UVC, d(4)-furan was destroyed rapidly even at low doses in fructose solution, suggesting that the accumulation of furan is the balance between destruction and formation. The UV sensitivity of E. coli K12 (a surrogate of E. coli O157:H7) in two sources of apple cider was also determined. At UVC doses that could inactivate 5-log of E. coli, very low concentrations (<1 ppb) of furan were induced. Our results suggest that UVC could induce furan formation, but when used for the purpose of juice pasteurization, little furan was induced in apple cider.     

Isotope labeling studies on the formation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (HMF) from sucrose by pyrolysis-GC/MS

Although it is generally assumed that the reactivity of sucrose, a nonreducing sugar, in the Maillard reaction is due to its hydrolysis into free glucose and fructose, however, no direct evidence has been provided for this pathway, especially in dry and high temperature systems. Using specifically (13)C-labeled sucrose at C-1 of the fructose moiety, HMF formation was studied at different temperatures. Under dry pyrolytic conditions and at temperatures above 250 degrees C, 90% of HMF originated from fructose moiety and only 10% originated from glucose. Alternatively, when sucrose was refluxed in acidic methanol at 65 degrees C, 100% of HMF was generated from the glucose moiety. Moreover, the relative efficiency of the known HMF precursor 3-deoxyglucosone to generate HMF was compared to that of glucose, fructose and sucrose. Glucose exhibited a much lower conversion rate than 3-deoxyglucosone, however, both fructose and sucrose showed much higher conversion rates than 3-deoxyglucosone thus precluding it as a major precursor of HMF in fructose and sucrose solutions. Based on the data generated, a mechanism of HMF formation from sucrose is proposed. According to this proposal sucrose degrades into glucose and a very reactive fructofuranosyl cation. In dry systems this cation can be effectively converted directly into HMF.     

Increase in the permeability of tonoplast of garlic (Allium sativum) by monocarboxylic acids

Immersion of intact aged garlic (Allium sativum) cloves in a series of 5% weak organic monocarboxylate solutions (pH 2.0) resulted in green color formation. No color was formed upon treatment with other weak organic acids, such as citric and malic acids, and the inorganic hydrochloric acid under the same conditions. To understand the significance of monocarboxylic acids and their differing function from that of other acids, acetic acid was compared with organic acids citric and malic and the inorganic hydrochloric acid. The effects of these acids on the permeability of plasma and intracellular membrane of garlic cells were measured by conductivity, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Except for hydrochloric acid, treatment of garlic with all three organic acids greatly increased the relative conductivity of their respective pickling solutions, indicating that all tested organic acids increased the permeability of plasma membrane. Moreover, a pickling solution containing acetic acid exhibited 1.5-fold higher relative conductivity (approximately 90%) as compared to those (approximately 60%) of both citric and malic acids, implying that exposure of garlic cloves to acetic acid not only changed the permeability of the plasma membrane but also increased the permeability of intracellular membrane. Exposure of garlic to acetic acid led to the production of precipitate along the tonoplast, but no precipitate was formed by citric and malic acids. This indicates that the structure of the tonoplast was damaged by this treatment. Further support for this conclusion comes from results showing that the concentration of thiosulfinates [which are produced only by catalytic conversion of S-alk(en)yl-l-cysteine sulfoxides in cytosol by alliinase located in the vacuole] in the acetic acid pickling solution is 1.3 mg/mL, but almost no thiosulfinates were detected in the pickling solution of citric and malic acids. Thus, all present results suggest that damage of tonoplast by treatment with monocarboxylates such as acetic acid may be the main reason for the greening of garlic.     

五九香梨贮藏期间挥发性化合物和理化性状的变化(英)

利用高效液相色谱法测定贮藏期间五九香梨的糖和有机酸的组成及变化,采用固相微萃取方式（SPME）进行萃取,并结合气相色谱和质谱（GC/MS）分析检测梨果实中的挥发性香气成分。得出以下主要结论：果糖是五九香梨的主要糖类,其次是葡萄糖和蔗糖。随着贮藏期的延长,果糖先有增加的趋势,在贮藏的第三个月内,果糖含量处于最高,而蔗糖和葡萄糖减少趋势不明显。五九香梨果实中的主要有机酸是苹果酸和柠檬酸,整个贮藏期间,柠檬酸和酒石酸含量处于上升趋势,苹果酸和奎宁酸含量在第一、二月贮藏期间增加,而后开始下降;莽草酸含量在贮藏期第一到第三阶段上升,而后略下降;琥珀酸含量在第一到第二阶段变化不明显,接着有上升的趋势,在第三阶段含量达到最高,第四和第五阶段略低于第三阶段;乙酸含量变化不明显。梨果实的硬度略有下降,贮藏的前3个月,可溶性固形物含量有上升的趋势,随后开始缓慢下降。五九香梨的主要香气成分化合物有乙酸己酯 (49.35%),乙酸丁酯 (19.56%),己酸乙酯 (5.16%),丁酸乙酯 (4.92%),乙酸乙酯 (1.08%),(E,Z)-2,4-癸二烯酸乙酯 (0.84%)等。在整个贮藏期间,部分香气成分随着贮藏期的延长而略有增加,尤其是酯类化合物。结果显示：果实硬度、可溶性固形物、糖、有机酸和香气的组成与变化对五九香梨果实的品质都有一定的影响。     

Chemical Composition of Ten Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars

Abstract

Ten blackcurrant cultivars were evaluated for some quality components. On average, the sugar content was 9.0%, of which fructose made up 45%, glucose 40% and sucrose 15%. Soluble solids were 15.4% as an average for the ten cultivars in three years. The acid content was 5.1% of fresh weight, 88% was citric acid and 12% malic acid. The ascorbic acid content varied from 67 mg per 100 g fresh fruit in Hedda, to 204 mg per 100 g in Blackdown. Except for Hedda and Øjebyn, which both had low values of ascorbic acid and colour properties, the quality components of the cultivars were found to be within an acceptable range.     

鸡粪的施用对薄皮甜瓜果实糖积累及糖代谢相关酶活性的影响

为了探讨鸡粪以及鸡粪与尿素配施对薄皮甜瓜果实糖积累及糖代谢相关酶活性的影响,本试验以薄皮甜瓜DX108为试验材料,以尿素为氮源的处理为对照(CK),研究了相同施氮量条件下,鸡粪与尿素配施(A)以及鸡粪(B)对甜瓜果实葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖含量的影响,分析了蔗糖磷酸合成酶(SPS)、蔗糖合成酶(SS,蔗糖合成与分解方向)、酸性转化酶(AI)和中性转化酶(NI)的活性。结果表明,与CK相比,B、A明显促进了果实中果糖、蔗糖及葡萄糖积累,尤其是显著增加了成熟果实中这3种糖的含量。相关性分析表明,CK的甜瓜果实蔗糖积累与AI活性呈显著负相关,葡萄糖与SPS和SS(蔗糖合成酶)合成方向酶活性呈显著正相关;A和B果实中蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖积累(除B中葡萄糖积累)与SPS、NI活性呈显著或极显著正相关,与SS分解方向酶活性呈极显著负相关,而A果实中葡萄糖积累与SPS和NI活性呈极显著正相关。综上所述,A和B提高了果实中SPS、NI活性,降低了SS分解方向酶活性,进而促进了糖的积累。本研究结果为有机肥替代化学氮肥在甜瓜生产上的应用提供了理论依据。     

Wheat gluten phenolic acids: occurrence and fate upon mixing

Ferulic acid (FA, 4.9-17.7 microg/100 mg), sinapic acid (SA, 1.4-3.5 microg/100 mg), and traces of p-coumaric acid and vanillic acid were detected after saponification of six wheat glutens from industrial and pilot-scale origins. FA and SA occurred mostly as soluble-bound and insoluble-bound forms according to their extractability by acetone/methanol/water (7:7:6, v/v/v). The major part of FA (50-95%) was found in the unextractable fraction, whereas SA was mostly extractable (64-85%). The carbohydrate contents of the glutens were determined also after acid hydrolysis. The highest levels of glucose, arabinoxylan, and FA were obtained from the unextractable fractions of the pilot-scale extracted glutens, probably in relation with a lower efficiency of washing during extraction compared to industrial processes. On the other hand, SA compounds were in similar concentrations in all samples, suggesting their involvement in specific interactions during gluten protein agglomeration. Saponification of the soluble-bound phenolic acids released mainly glucose, whereas a beta-glucosidase treatment had no effect. FA and SA extractability, especially that of soluble-bound ones, decreased strongly in overmixed gluten/water doughs. These low molecular weight conjugates of phenolic acids could be involved in the dough breakdown phenomenon.     

Quality components of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) varieties

The sensory quality and chemical constituents of juices from seven sea buckthorn (Hippophaerhamnoides L.) varieties were studied in two consecutive seasons. The juices were generally described as sour and astringent, with low sweetness and fruity flavor. The differences in sensory quality as well as in chemical composition between samples and years were significant (p < 0.05) in most parameters studied. The Chuiskaya variety was described as the sweetest, with the strongest fruity flavor, whereas the varieties Avgustinka, Botanicheskaya, Trofimovskaya, and Raisa were the sourest and most astringent. Total sugar (fructose and glucose) varied from 1.9 to 7.1 g/100 mL in juice, total acid (malic and quinic acids) from 3.1 to 5.1 g/100 mL, vitamin C from 29 to 176 mg/100 mL, and pulp oil from 0.7 to 3.6%. The soluble solids were between 7.4 and 12.6, the pH between 2.7 and 2.9, and the titrable acidity between 2.0 and 3.7. The redness was highest on Avgustinka and Raisa, but there were no differences in yellowness. Total sugar and the sugar/acid ratio correlated positively with sweetness and negatively with sourness and astringency, whereas total acid and titrable acidity correlated positively with sourness and astringency and negatively with sweetness.     

Kinetics of acrylamide formation and elimination during heating of an asparagine-sugar model system

The kinetics of acrylamide (AA) was analyzed by heating a simple model system consisting of asparagine and glucose, fructose, or sucrose (0.01 M, pH 6) at temperatures between 140 and 200 degrees C. The AA concentration appeared to be the net result of simultaneous formation and elimination. A general kinetic model describing the AA yield was identified, and kinetic parameters were obtained by nonlinear regression on the nonisothermally derived data. On the basis of kinetic parameters, the AA formation appeared to proceed faster and to be more temperature sensitive in the asparagine-glucose than in the asparagine-fructose model system. The AA elimination kinetics, on the other hand, was similar. Significantly less AA was formed in the asparagine-sucrose model system as compared to the model systems with glucose or fructose.     

Changes in physicochemical characteristics and volatile constituents of strawberry (Cv. Cigaline) during maturation

Changes in the volatile composition of strawberries (cv. Cigaline) at six stages of maturity, from 28 to 44 days after anthesis, were investigated over two harvesting seasons. Volatiles were isolated by direct solvent extraction and analyzed by means of GC-FID and GC-MS, with special attention to the quantification of furanones. Firmness, skin color, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, organic acids, and sugars were also determined. With increasing maturity, soluble solids, SS/TA ratio, Minolta a value, and levels of sucrose, glucose, fructose, and malic acid increased, whereas Minolta L value, hue angle (), titratable acidity, and levels of citric acid decreased. Furanones and esters were generally not detected before half-red fruits, whereas C(6) compounds were the main compounds in immature fruits. During maturation, levels of these so-called green components decreased drastically, whereas levels of key flavor compounds increased significantly and were closely correlated with skin color development. Maximum volatile production was observed in fully red fruits.     

Sucrose, glucose, and fructose extraction in aqueous carrot root extracts prepared at different temperatures by means of direct NMR measurements

Solutions obtained by heating carrot roots in water (stocks) are widely used in the food industry, but little information is available regarding the metabolites (intermediates and products of metabolism) found in the stock. The effect of treatment temperature and duration on the sugar composition of stocks was investigated directly by quantitative (1)H NMR spectroscopy, to understand the extraction mechanism when processing at 100 degrees C. Stocks prepared at three different temperatures (50, 75, and 100 degrees C) were investigated for up to 36 h. Three sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) were detected and quantified. The concentrations of these three sugars reached a maximum after 9 h when the temperature of treatment was 50 or 75 degrees C. At 100 degrees C, the sucrose concentration reached a maximum after 3 h, whereas the concentration of glucose and fructose was still increasing at that time. Comparison of the kinetic composition of these carrot stocks with that of model sugar solutions leads to the proposal that the changes in stock composition result from sugar diffusion, sucrose hydrolysis, and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) formation.     

“风味2号”甜瓜果实成熟过程中的品质变化

以60Coγ射线育出甜瓜新品种"风味2号"为材料,研究其果实发育和品质形成的动态变化。结果表明,从授粉后第5天开始果实快速膨大,第30天时鲜重达最大。从授粉后第29天开始,果肉可溶性糖含量迅速增加,其后保持稳定,至第34天显著降低。可滴定酸含量随果实的发育逐渐增加,糖酸比的高峰出现在授粉后第30-34天。气相色谱表明,"风味2号"果实中主要可溶性糖为果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖,有机酸为苹果酸和柠檬酸,其中柠檬酸是主要有机酸。气相色谱-质谱联用分析显示:果实有35种挥发性物质,其中酯类占35.24%,酸类占19.21%,醇类为14.28%,醛类为11.71%。     

Model organic compounds differ in priming effects on alkalinity release in soils through carbon and nitrogen mineralisation

The influence of organic matter and its cycling on soil pH change is still unclear. This study investigated the effect of organic compounds on carbon and nitrogen dynamics and their relationship with pH changes in two soils differing in initial soil pH (Podosol of pH 4.5 and Tenosol of pH 6.2). Seven organic compounds representing common compounds in decomposing plant residues or root exudates were added to the soils and incubated for 60 d. The largest cumulative soil respiration occurred when glucose, malic acid and citric acid were added. In addition, the Tenosol had the greater respiration compared to the Podosol. The addition of organic acids (acetic, malic, citric, ferulic and benzoic acid) instantly decreased soil pH due to the dissociation of H⁺ from the acids. The pH of both soils was then restored over time, which was positively correlated with decomposition % of these compounds. The pH of the Tenosol amended with all the organic acids and of the Podosol with malic acid exceeded that of the control, and net alkalization occurred, with the degree of alkalization being greater with malic and citric acid. Adding organic acids to the Tenosol generally increased NH₄ concentrations but decreased NO₃ concentrations. The addition of glucose decreased pH in Podosol but slightly increased it in the Tenosol. The addition of glucosamine hydrochloride decreased pH due to significant nitrification. The results suggest that the addition of organic acids stimulates microbial NO₃ uptake, and ammonification and decomposition of indigenous soil organic matter, resulting in a priming effect on alkalinity release, and that the degree of the priming effect is influenced by the type of organic acid and initial soil pH.     

gamma-Radiation influences browning, antioxidant activity, and malondialdehyde level of apple juice

Apple juice was gamma-irradiated at 5 degrees C at doses ranging from 0 to 8.9 kGy and then stored at 5 degrees C for 15 days. Ionizing radiation reduced the browning of apple juice and increased antioxidant activity measured by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The magnitude of changes increased with radiation dose. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) measured using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substrates assay increased at radiation doses above 2.67 kGy. The browning of irradiated juices increased during storage at 5 degrees C, but the irradiated juices were still lighter than controls at the end of storage. Differences in FRAP values disappeared during early periods of storage while higher MDA levels were observed in irradiated samples during most of the storage period. Elimination of suspended matter from apple juice did not alter irradiation-induced changes in browning, FRAP, or MDA formation. As compared to irradiation conducted at 5 and 20 degrees C, treatment at -15 degrees C was less effective in reducing browning and in increasing MDA formation but elevated FRAP values. The exclusion of oxygen from juices did not affect the reduction in browning due to irradiation but promoted the increase in FRAP values and decreased the irradiation-induced MDA formation.     

不同氮形态和氮水平对水田与旱地烤烟烟叶糖含量及相关酶活性的影响

采用田间小区试验,研究了硝态氮和铵态氮两种氮肥形态和5个施氮水平对水田与旱地烤烟在团棵期、旺长期、脚叶采烤期、腰叶采烤期和顶叶采烤期烟叶中可溶性总糖、蔗糖、果糖含量,蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和蔗糖合成酶（SS）活性的变化动态及烤后烟叶中可溶性总糖、总氮和烟碱的浓度的影响。结果表明,当施用硝态氮和铵态氮后,水田与旱地施氮量分别在0～120和0～112.5 kg/hm2范围内均能明显提高烤烟烟叶中的可溶性总糖、蔗糖和果糖含量;硝态氮和铵态氮的肥效相当。水田烤烟在生育期内烟叶的糖分含量明显高于旱地烤烟。施用氮肥还能明显促进SS和SPS活性,加速烟叶中碳水化合物的代谢。烘烤后旱地烟叶中的可溶性总糖含量(332～383 mg/g,DW)显著高于水田烟叶的含量(305～342 mg/g,DW)。施用铵态氮,旱地与水田可溶性总糖含量（分别为366.5、331.3 mg/g,DW）,显著高于硝态氮处理（分别为358.9、317.2 mg/g,DW）;而旱地烤烟烟叶的总氮和烟碱浓度（12～16 mg/g,DW）却低于水田烟叶烟碱浓度(16～20 mg/g,DW);旱地烤烟烟叶的可溶性总糖/总氮或烟碱比值高于水田烟叶。     

钾对小麦茎和叶鞘碳水化合物含量及子粒淀粉积累的影响

田间条件下研究了钾素对冬小麦品种鲁麦22茎和叶鞘中碳水化合物含量变化以及灌浆过程中子粒淀粉积累的影响。结果表明,钾素有利于提高茎中果聚糖、蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖在灌浆期间的积累,促进了灌浆后期果聚糖的降解及蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖的输出。其中以K2处理的作用为最大;有利于提高灌浆过程中叶鞘果聚糖、果糖、蔗糖和葡萄糖的积累,但提高幅度小于茎中的提高幅度;同时钾素亦提高了灌浆期间子粒中可溶性总糖和蔗糖的供应,加速了淀粉积累速率,其中以K2处理为最高,最终获得了最高的产量(9411 15kg/hm2)和最大的钾素生产效率。     

Characterization and Selection of Balanced Sources of Variability for Breeding Tomato (Lycopersicon) Internal Quality

Tomato breeders have hitherto selected for yield, uniformity and disease resistance rather than for internal qualities such as taste that depend on appropriate amounts and proportions of many different constituents. In order to improve internal quality it is necessary to find balanced donor parents with high contents of these individual constituents in order to develop this strategy. A methodology to evaluate all constituents together is also necessary. This work characterizes and classifies accessions of Lycopersicon to assist the selection of parents for several internal qualities. Thirty-eight accessions of L. esculentum, L. pimpinellifolium, L. hirsutum, L. pennellii and L. peruvianum have been studied, and their taste and vitamin C content characteristics have been measured. Some of the variables studied are complex since many chemical constituents are involved (pH, °Brix (SSC), titratable acidity), whereas other variables are individual constituents (vitamin C, oxalic acid, malic acid, citric acid, fructose, glucose and sucrose). Therefore, individual taste components in Lycopersicon accessions have been analysed by using precise analytical techniques (capillary zone electrophoresis) and statistical methods (principal component, cluster and GGE biplot analyses) for comparisons to be made not only among these, but also among controls (four breeding lines and one commercial hybrid). All analyses performed have allowed both for a good classification and for a selection of materials to be made. Two L. pimpinellifolium accessions are very interesting to use as donor parents in the first steps of tomato taste breeding programmes, since they are balanced and have shown three times the taste intensity of controls. Furthermore, characterization by individual constituents (citric, malic, oxalic and ascorbic acids, glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc.) has been found to be a precise tool to classify and select Lycopersicon germplasm for internal quality attributes.