Monitoring of Bioactive Compounds of Tomato Cultivars as Affected by Mulching Film

Abstract The influence of varieties and the effect of mulching film on antioxidant capacity, polyphenol content, ascorbic acid content, and yield of tomato fruits were investigated. Results of two years (2012 and 2013) investigations were compared. The results proved a statistically significant effect of year, mulching film, and variety on the content of total polyphenols (0.92–1.49 g gallic acid equivalents per kg of fresh weight (FW), ascorbic acid (26.66–38.62 mg per 100 g FW), and antioxidant capacity (1.12–1.94 g ascorbic acid equivalents per kg FW), while the values were the highest in 2013 and in uncovered soil. Conversely, a higher yield was found in mulching film compared with uncovered soil, also in 2013 (48.65–120.38 t ha−1). There was a negative correlation between the yield and the content of bioactive compounds (BC) and antioxidant capacity. The content of bioactive substances, antioxidant capacity, and yield of tomato fruits is dependent on the vintage, agronomical interventions, and genotype.