Influence of contaminants of emerging concern on the primary and secondary metabolites of hydroponically grown tomatoes

Vehar, Anja (author), Kacjan-Maršić, Nina (author), Železnikar, Špela (author), Potočnik, Doris (author), Strojnik, Lidija (author), Mikulič Petkovšek, Maja (author), Šircelj, Helena (author), Kastelec, Damijana (author), Kovačič, Ana (author), Pintar, Marina (author), Heath, David John (author), Heath, Ester (author), Ogrinc, Nives (author)

The practical application of treated wastewater for irrigation depends not only on its safety but also on its potential impact on crop quality. This study investigated the effects of 14 contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) on the metabolic profile of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown hydroponically. Results showed that compared to the controls, exposure to CECs significantly increased yield (48–154 %) but did not affect the content of sugars, organic acids, carotenoids and polyphenols. However, exposed tomatoes had significantly lower concentrations of specific amino acids, including valine, leucine, aspartic acid and methionine (7–14 %), while fatty acids remained unchanged. Additionally, CECs significantly altered the volatile organic compound profile of tomato fruit. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to CECs can affect tomato quality. This study is particularly relevant in the context of using CEC-contaminated treated wastewater in hydroponic systems.

• Language: English
• Keywords: hydroponics, tomato quality, amino acids, fatty acids, volatile organic compounds
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 5, iss. 491, art. 145226
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169996
• UDC: 635
• ISSN on article: 1873-7072
• DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.145226
• COBISS.SI-ID: 240589571
• Publication date in RUL: 01.07.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Food chemistry
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1873-7072
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23392261

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: hidroponika, paradižnik, Solanum lycopersicum L., kvaliteta, aminokisline, maščobne kisline, hlapne organske spojine