Inheritance of nutritional and sensory quality traits in fresh market tomato and relation to consumer preferences

In order to analyze the genetic control of fresh-market tomato quality, the genetic variation of quality attributes was analyzed in 45 hybrids and their 13 parental lines, grown in 2 contrasted environments. Fruit quality was assessed by physical measurements, fruit composition, and sensory analyses (descriptive analysis by a trained panel and hedonic tests by randomly chosen consumers). Most of the physicochemical traits, flavor attributes, and firm texture showed a simple additive inheritance on the contrary to the aroma and other texture traits. Specific networks of relationships among traits were shown in hybrids. Consumers perceived significant differences among hybrids and seemed to particularly appreciate the hybrids among old and modern lines.