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Volume 14
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10.3390/foods14234044
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Metabolic Profiling and Functional Metabolite Distribution in Colored Tomatoes

by
Ao Su
1,2,†,
Chunxin Liu
1,2,†,
Yurong Yang
1,2,
Xudong Wang
1,2,
Chengyu Wu
1,2,
Dalong Li
1,2,
He Zhang
1,2,
Dong Liu
3,
Xiangyang Xu
1,2 and
Tingting Zhao
1,2,*
1
Laboratory of Genetic Breeding in Tomato, College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
2
Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (Northeast Region), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
3
College of Plant Protection, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Foods 2025, 14(23), 4044; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234044
Submission received: 20 October 2025 / Revised: 8 November 2025 / Accepted: 24 November 2025 / Published: 25 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is valued for its versatile consumption and rich nutrients. Current research on functional metabolite distribution in tomatoes mostly focuses on a few varieties, limiting comprehensive understanding across different colored types. This study investigated metabolic characteristics and functional metabolite distribution in colored tomatoes via metabolomic analysis and functional metabolite quantification across diverse germplasm resources. Metabolomic analysis identified 910 metabolites from four colored cherry tomato varieties. Significantly differential metabolite analysis revealed most were flavonoids (27 in total) and alkaloids (14 in total). Additionally, KEGG enrichment analysis identified 4 significantly enriched pathways, mainly related to amino acid biosynthesis, degradation, and metabolism. Quantification across 113 tomato germplasm resources revealed that red tomatoes had higher lycopene; brown tomatoes were rich in lycopene, chlorophyll, and β-carotene; green tomatoes contained higher chlorophyll, saponin, vitamin E, and naringenin. This study provides an important reference for consumers to select colored tomatoes and for breeders to conduct targeted genetic improvement.
Keywords: tomato color; wide-targeted metabolomics; functional metabolites; distribution patterns tomato color; wide-targeted metabolomics; functional metabolites; distribution patterns

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MDPI and ACS Style

Su, A.; Liu, C.; Yang, Y.; Wang, X.; Wu, C.; Li, D.; Zhang, H.; Liu, D.; Xu, X.; Zhao, T. Metabolic Profiling and Functional Metabolite Distribution in Colored Tomatoes. Foods 2025, 14, 4044. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234044

AMA Style

Su A, Liu C, Yang Y, Wang X, Wu C, Li D, Zhang H, Liu D, Xu X, Zhao T. Metabolic Profiling and Functional Metabolite Distribution in Colored Tomatoes. Foods. 2025; 14(23):4044. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234044

Chicago/Turabian Style

Su, Ao, Chunxin Liu, Yurong Yang, Xudong Wang, Chengyu Wu, Dalong Li, He Zhang, Dong Liu, Xiangyang Xu, and Tingting Zhao. 2025. "Metabolic Profiling and Functional Metabolite Distribution in Colored Tomatoes" Foods 14, no. 23: 4044. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234044

APA Style

Su, A., Liu, C., Yang, Y., Wang, X., Wu, C., Li, D., Zhang, H., Liu, D., Xu, X., & Zhao, T. (2025). Metabolic Profiling and Functional Metabolite Distribution in Colored Tomatoes. Foods, 14(23), 4044. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14234044

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