Cherry tomatoes metabolic profile determined by 1H-High Resolution-NMR spectroscopy as influenced by growing season

• Tomato lipophilic fraction has great nutritional value and was investigated by NMR.
• Important changes were observed as function of growing season and tomato variety.
• Naomi and Shiren varieties were differently affected by climatic conditions.
• α-Tocopherol and unsaturated lipids were mostly sensible in Naomi cherry tomatoes.
• Chlorophylls and phospholipids significantly discriminated seasonal changes in Shiren.

The content of the most valuable metabolites present in the lipophilic fraction of Protected Geographical Indication cherry tomatoes produced in Pachino (Italy) was observed for 2 cultivated varieties, i.e. cv. Naomi and cv. Shiren, over a period of 3 years in order to observe variations due to relevant climatic parameters, e.g. solar radiation and average temperature, characterising different seasons. 1H-NMR spectroscopy was applied and spectral data were processed by means of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We found that the metabolic profile was different for the two considered cultivated varieties and they were differently affected by climatic conditions. Major metabolites influenced by cropping period were α-tocopherol and the unsaturated lipid fraction in Naomi cherry tomatoes, and chlorophylls and phospholipids in Shiren variety, respectively. These results furnished useful information on seasonal dynamics of such important nutritional metabolites contained in tomatoes, confirming also NMR spectroscopy as powerful tool to define a complete metabolic profiling.