Tomato fruit
ripening is accompanied by changes in colour from green
to red, softening, and increased levels of compounds that
contribute to flavour and aroma, such as organic acids, sugars
and volatiles. The colour change is due to the unmasking
of previously present pigments by degradation of chlorophyll
coupled with the synthesis of different types of anthocyanins
and the accumulation of carotenoids such as β-carotene, xanthophyll
esters, xanthophylls, and lycopene. Indeed, lycopene
is considered a major carotenoid in tomato that provides