Ultra-performance liquid chromatographic separation of geometric isomers of carotenoids and antioxidant activities of 20 tomato cultivars and breeding lines

► A new UPLC method for the separation of carotenoids (lycopene, β-carotene and lutein). ► Identify and quantify three all-trans and 22 cis-carotenoids of tomato by UPLC in 15 min. ► Carotenoid profiles and genetic variation of 20 accessions of tomato (many are unique). ► Antioxidant activities of 20 tomato cultivars and breeding lines. ► Correlation between the carotenoids and antioxidant activities.