Sunil Zacharia

Tomato is most popular and widely grown vegetable around the world, Tomato is considered as an important commercial and dietary vegetable crop. As it is a short duration crop and gives high yield, it is also important from economic point, known as protective food both because of its special nutritive value and also because of its wide spread production, cultivated for its fleshy fruits. Tomato is also rich in medicinal value. The pulp and juice are digestible, mild aperients, a promoter of gastric secretion and blood purifier. It is reported to have antiseptic properties against intestinal infections. It is said to be useful against cancer of the mouth, sore mouth, etc. Dried tomato juice retains vitamin C. It stimulates torpid liver and is good in chronic dyspepsia. Therefore, disease free and chemical free production of tomatoes is necessary.