THE PHYTOENE CONTENT OF TOMATOES

Abstract

The leaves and fruit of an albino mutant from a normal red-fruited tomato stock were analyzed for carotenoid content. A phytoene concentration was found comparable to that of lycopene in normal red fruit. Analyses were made for the phytoene contents of fruits of several genotypes. Difficulties in the way of accepting phytoene as a precursor in lycopene synthesis are discussed.