## 3 Results and Discussion
### Organoleptic and Nutraceutical Quality of Soil-Grown Tomatoes (2021)
Indeed, these authors observed that the overall hedonic index of pleasantness (5.89) of the control tomatoes was similar to the values found in the present research (5.85). To analyse the impact of the varieties and cultivation systems, we grouped various datasets, which included 32 variables and 12 samples (each treatment performed in triplicate). This complexity made interpreting the data challenging. Therefore, we utilized statistical methods such as PCA and HCA to visualize variability and group similar samples, providing a comprehensive analysis that uncovered meaningful patterns and relationships. PCA demonstrated that the first two axes collectively accounted for over 62.7% of the variance (Figure 5). Specifically, PC1 alone elucidates 42.7% of the variability, effectively distinguishing between varieties cultivated in soil (left quadrant) and those grown aeroponically and without soil (right quadrant). The second axis, contributing 20.0% of the variability, partially distinguished the Pisanello variety (upper left quadrant) from Goldman F1, where one replicate was on the axis, and another was near it. The main differences between these two varieties were primarily attributed to the higher pH levels in the Pisanello compared to Goldman F1, as well as the elevated fruit dimension and berry consistency (fruit firmness) in Goldman F1. Additionally, this axis also differentiated the aeroponic system (lower right quadrant) from the soilless rockwood system, situated in the opposite quadrant. Notably, the latter showed important sensory parameters. HCA further validated this distribution by initially segregating soil-cultivated and soilless varieties into two distinct groups: Group A (soil) and Group B (soilless) (Figure 6). These clusters were subsequently subdivided into subclusters: subcluster A-a, comprising the Goldman F1 tomatoes, and subcluster A-b, consisting of the Pisanello tomatoes (Figure 6). Similarly, the soilless group was divided into subcluster B-a, containing two Pisanello aeroponically cultivated samples and one soilless sample, and subcluster B-b, encompassing the remaining soilless samples. Figure 4: Overall hedonic index. Overall hedonic index of pleasantness of tomato fruit attributed by panellists. Mean values (n = 10) \(\pm\) standard deviation followed by different letters are statistically different according to the LSD test. Figure 5: Principal Component Analysis **(a)** and biplot **(b)** of tomato varieties. 1: Pisanello soilless1; 2: Pisanello soilless2; 3: Pisanello soilless3; 4: Pisanello soill1; 5: Pisanello soil2; 6: Pisanello soil3; 7: Pisanello aeroponics1; 8: Pisanello aeroponics2; 9: Pisanello aeroponics3; 10: [PERSON]\(-\)1: 11: [PERSON] F1\(-\)2; 12: [PERSON] F1\(-\)3. *: Goldmar\(-\)F; X: Pisanello soil; Y: Pisanello soilless rockwood; Z: Pisanello aeroponics; CB: consistence of berries; Veg: vegetal; FD: fruit dimension; EC: electrical conductivity; Tit-Aci: titratable acidity; TTS: total soluble solids; DR: dry residue; Lic: lycopene; CH: colour homogeneity; Fru: fruit; PHE: total phenols; PI: perfume intensity; Sap: sapidity; Ple: pleasance; CT: colour tonality; TI: taste intensity; Swe: sweetness; Per: persistence; Equ: equilibrium; OF: Olfactive frankness; Jui: juiciness; FH: fruit homogeneity; CI: colour intensity; Seeds: presence of seeds; Min: mineral; Lac: presence of lacerations; TF: taste frankness; ES: evolutionary state; CR: chewing resistance; DPPH: antioxidant activity by DPPH assay. Figure 6: Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of tomato varieties. The clusters were subdivided in subclusters: A-a: Goldmar F1 tomatoes; A-b: Pisanello tomatoes; B-a: two aeroponic Pisanello samples and  
one rockwood-cultivated Pisanello sample; B-b: the remaining soilless samples.