Tomato lycopene, total flavonoids, vitamin C content and mineral composition as affected by biosynthesized calcium carbonate nanoparticles foliar application

Abstract

Tomatoes, the world's second-largest fruit crop, offer essential amino acids, oleic acid, and minerals like Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn in their fruits. This study examined the influence of biosynthesized CaCO 3 on the mineral composition, lycopene concentration and total flavonoids of greenhouse-grown tomatoes. The results showed that spraying tomato plants with 50–150 mg/L of a CaCO 3 NPs solution can increase the total flavonoid content in ripe fruits. The Vitamin C concentration was cultivar dependent with an increase observed in Money-maker at 50 mg/L of CaCO 3 nanoparticles. The lycopene content was higher in Money-maker fruits compared to Heinz-1370. However, both cultivars had higher lycopene content with 150 mg/L of CaCO 3 NPs. Lastly, the mineral composition of tomato leaves was enhanced by the different treatments in a dissimilar way. It was however observed that CaCO 3 NPs increased the Ca content of the leaves of both cultivars. Nevertheless, for Heinz-1370, the application of CaCO 3 NPs increased Zn, K, Na and B, while for Money-maker it increased B, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn content alongside Ca. • CaCO 3 NPs increase the lycopene content of tomato fruits. • Vitamin C content was cultivar dependent with an increase observed in Money-maker. • CaCO 3 NPs solution can increase the total flavonoid content in ripe fruits. • The mineral composition of tomato leaves was enhanced by the different treatments in a dissimilar way.