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Tomato is one of the most important fruits worldwide. It is widely consumed due to its sensory and nutritional attributes. However, like many other industrial crops, it is affected by biotic and abiotic stress factors, reducing its metabolic and physiological processes. Tomato plants possess different mechanisms of stress responses in which hormones have a pivotal role. They are responsible for a complex signaling network, where the antioxidant system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants) is crucial for avoiding the excessive damage caused by stress factors. In this sense, it seems that hormones such as ethylene, auxins, brassinosteroids, and salicylic, jasmonic, abscisic, and gibberellic acids, play important roles in increasing antioxidant system and reducing oxidative damage caused by different stressors. Although several studies have been conducted on the stress factors, hormones, and primary metabolites of tomato plants, the effect of endogenous and/or exogenous hormones on the secondary metabolism is still poorly studied, which is paramount for tomato growing management and secondary metabolites production. Thus, this review offers an updated overview of both endogenous biosynthesis and exogenous hormone application in the antioxidant system of tomato plants as a response to biotic and abiotic stress factors.

This review aims to evaluate the state of saffron's main bioactive compounds and their relationship with its commercial quality. Saffron is the commercial name for the dried red stigmas of the Crocus sativus L. flower. It owes its sensory and functional properties mainly to the presence of its carotenoid derivatives, synthesized throughout flowering and also during the whole production process. These compounds include crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which are bioactive metabolites. Saffron's commercial value is determined according to the ISO/TS3632 standard that determines their main apocatotenoids. Other techniques such as chromatography (gas and liquid) are used to detect the apocarotenoids. This, together with the determination of spectral fingerprinting or chemo typing are essential for saffron identification. The determination of the specific chemical markers coupled with chemometric methods favors the discrimination of adulterated samples, possible plants, or adulterating compounds and even the concentrations at which these are obtained. Chemical characterization and concentration of various compounds could be affected by saffron's geographical origin and harvest/postharvest characteristics. The large number of chemical compounds found in the by-products (flower parts) of saffron (catechin, quercetin, delphinidin, etc.) make it an interesting aromatic spice as a colorant, antioxidant, and source of phytochemicals, which can also bring additional economic value to the most expensive aromatic species in the world.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effectiveness of thymol and carvacrol added to edible starch films and coatings against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . In vitro evaluation consisted of determining minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of carvacrol and thymol was determined at different pH values against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . With MIC values, binary mixtures were developed. From these results, two coatings formulations were in vivo evaluated on mango and papaya. Physicochemical analysis, color change, fruit lesions and C. gloeosporioides growth were determined during storage. In vitro assay indicated that the MIC value of carvacrol and thymol against C. gloeosporioides was 1500 mg/L at pH 5. An additive effect was determined with 750/750 and 1125/375 mg/L mixtures of carvacrol and thymol, respectively. Coated fruits with selected mixtures of carvacrol and thymol presented a delay in firmness, maturity index and color change. Moreover, a fungistatic effect was observed due to a reduction of lesions in coated fruits. These results were corroborated by the increase in the lag phase value and the reduction of the growth rate. Carvacrol and thymol incorporated into edible films and coatings are able to reduce the incidence of anthracnose symptoms on mango and papaya.