<div>Fruits and vegetables are a rich sources of different nutrients, pigments, secondary metabolites and other nutritional components which are beneficial and fundamental components for human health. In recent years, the consumption of coloured fruits and vegetables has increased significantly due to their superior nutritional characteristics. In this context, purple tomato is now gaining importance due to the high content of the pigment anthocyanins. This article provides knowledge on 1) Tomato in general and anthocyanin-rich purple tomato, 2) Benefits of anthocyanins in plants and human diet, 3) Strategies for development of purple tomato, 4) Better postharvest life of purple tomatoes, 5) Purple tomato in India and 6) Health benefits of purple tomato. Purple tomato fruits provide higher nutraceutical value as compared to the classical red tomato as it combines the health benefits of the anthocyanins along with other usual and known phytochemicals as already present in tomato fruit. Due to higher anthocyanins and antioxidative properties, purple tomatoes possess anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancerous, cardio-protective, hepto-protective and neuroprotective effects. Regular consumption of purple tomatoes has also been found effective in the prevention of certain chronic diseases of humans as well. The use of conventional breeding and modern transgenic approach is paving the way for higher anthocyanin and other nutraceuticals in tomato fruits. Higher anthocyanin content has also imparted enhanced shelf-life and better storability to purple tomatoes. In the coming time, the availability and popularity of purple tomatoes in India will be beneficial for farmers, processing industries and human health. This will also serve as another step forward towards attaining nutritional security.</div>

Purple Tomato - Importance and Scope: A Review

<div>Background:&nbsp;Due to their highly perishable nature, vegetables possess a higher chance of deterioration and damage after harvesting. Freezing is a potential preservation technique used to reduce the deterioration and increase the shelf life of vegetables by preventing the wastage of substantial quantities of tomatoes in Sri Lanka. 
 
Methods:&nbsp;In this research calcium chloride (2.4% w/w) pretreated Thilina and RIDA F1 tomato variety pieces were analyzed drip loss, pH, color, hardness, cutting shearing strength, ascorbic acid content and sensory parameters under air blast freezing (-30&deg;C, 3 ms-1 air velocity) and conventional freezing (-18&deg;C) conditions.&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
Result:&nbsp;The L* values of colour, pH and ascorbic acid content were shown significant differences (p&lt;0.05) but a*, b* values, driploss%, cutting and shearing strength didn&rsquo;t show any significant differences (p&lt;0.05) during different freezing conditions. The magnitude of color change (∆E) is higher (p&lt;0.05) in conventional freezing treatment than in air-blast freezing. The preference among the panelists is significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher for blast frozen tomato samples than conventional frozen samples concerning color, odor, texture and overall quality parameters. According to the statistical analysis, air blast freezing preserve better physiochemical and sensory parameters of Thilina and RIDA F1 tomato varieties.</div>

Determination of the Effect of Freezing Methods on the Quality of Frozen Tomato Pieces

Background: Tomato is one of the most important and popular vegetable crop grown mainly in dry seasons in Bangladesh. The southern part of the country is suffering from soil salinity problem due to tidal floods. The increasing salinity in the cultivatable land causes huge crop failure. A dozen of tomato varieties have been developed but they are not been tested for salinity tolerance. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the tolerance level of tomato varieties against NaCl salinity stress at the vegetative stage.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study comprised of four levels of electrical conductivity (EC) based NaCl salinity viz., EC 2 (control), EC 4, EC 6 and EC8 mS/cm and eight varieties of tomato. The two-factor pot experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. NaCl salinity was imposed on the tomato plants through a hydroponic culture system and the effects of salinity on shoot-roots traits were measured. 
 
Result: Results showed that morphological traits of tomato plants varied significantly with the salinity levels and variety. It is also noticed that all the vegetative traits reduced as salt concentrations increased in the solution. In combined effects of variety and salinity levels, it was found that BARI Tomato-17 performed superior. It can be concluded that variety BARI Tomato-17 showed comparatively salt tolerant than the other varieties.

Effect of Salinity (NaCl) Stress on Root-shoot Traits of Tomato in Hydroponic Culture

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The post-harvest tomato fruit rot disease is common threat to the tomato fruit, causing huge economic loss as revealed by (GOP, 2018). The present study was conducted for isolation and identification of causative agent of tomato fruit rot in order to formulate the proper management stretegies.&nbsp; Methods: Study was conducted in three phases. Phase one included collection of tomato fruit samples from vicinity of Tandojam. In phase two pathogens were isolated from the samples at laboratory, while in the phase three pathogens were identified using standard procedures.&nbsp; Result: The experimental results indicated Alternaria solani as the main cause of post-harvest tomato fruit rot. The symptoms observed were presence of brown to black rot lesions on tomato fruits with distinct rings ranging from small pin-heads to whole surface of fruit. A total of six different fungi viz., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria solani, Geotrichum candidum, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizopus stolonifer were found to be associated with post harvest tomato rot. Significantly higher infection was recorded for A. solani (53.667%) followed by A. niger (16.333%) and G. candidum (13.00%). The lowest infection percentage was observed for F. oxysporum (2.333%), followed by A. alternata (4.00%) and R. stolonifer (9.00%). A. solani produced aerial mycelium with yellowish to reddish diffusible pigments. A. niger cultures were typically black and colonies were initially whitish to yellow and later became brown to black in colour. G. candidum produced white and nonaerial colonies. F. oxysporum produced circular, aerial mycelium initially white, later changed to light pink. R. stolonifer produced whitish to grey fuzzy colonies.&nbsp;</div>

<div>Isolation and Identification of the Fungi Causing Tomato Fruit Rot Disease in the Vicinity of Tandojam, Sindh</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study was undertaken to explore the characters highly responsible for yield of tomato. Genotypic variability, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing characters were studied for 18 tomato genotypes and data were recorded on plant height at maturity, number of branches per plant, days to 50 percent flowering, number of fruits per cluster, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, number of locule per fruit and fruit yield per plant. The experimental results revealed that the phenotypic variation was high as compared to genotypic variation for all the traits studied and maximum for yield per plant, average fruit weight and plant height. High PCV, GCV and genetic advance was observed for yield per plant, number of fruits per plant and number of locules per fruit indicating the additive genetic effect. Phenotypic selection for their improvement could be achieved by simple selection.</div>

Variability, heritability and genetic advance in tomato genotypes &nbsp;

<div>Background:&nbsp;Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are the most devastating pests of vegetables, especially in the tropic and subtropic regions. Meloidogyne incognita is among the major pathogens found in the tomato crop and causes a significant yield loss. This study evaluates the resistance and susceptible cultivar of tomato against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). 
 
Methods: A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the resistance or susceptibility of nine tomato cultivars against M. incognita. Nine cultivars of tomato (Jyoti-4, Navuday, P-21, T9, Pusa-Rohini, Pusa-Sheetal, Pusa-Ruby, Tomato-Ped and Tomato-Round) were procured from Indian Institute of Agriculture Research (IARI), New Delhi and Chola seeds store Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. Two weeks old seedlings of each cultivar were transplanted singly into each pot of 15 cm diameter (1 kg mixture of soil). Only one healthy seedling of each cultivar was maintained in each pot, including the control. Each pot was inoculated with 1500 freshly hatched second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita. This experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications of each cultivar. 
 
Result: According to the rating scale of galls and reductions in growth parameters, cultivars Pusa-Ruby and Tomato-Ped were found highly susceptible. Five cultivars, namely Jyoti-4, Navuday, Pusa-Sheetal, P-21 and Tomato-Round were found susceptible, while cultivar Pusa-Rohini was found moderately susceptible. Only one cultivar viz., T9, was found moderately resistant.</div>

Varietal Susceptibility and Disease Resistance of Tomato Cultivars against Meloidogyne incognita in Greenhouse Condition

Tomato is a most economic vegetable in India. Covers major area in its cultivation during crop production, it is threatened by major viral disease i.e tomato leaf curl disease, caused by begomovirus and transmitted by the vector. It causes yield loss up to 90-100 per cent, application of insecticide for the control of vector causes regular outbreak. Identification of resistant source from wild species and their introgression with susceptible source, development of lines/varieties, resistant/tolerant to Tomato leaf curl disease is the safest and long term alternative for solving this problem. This paper covers the major aspect related to virus, virus causing factors, vectors and sources of disease resistance and also breeding tools employed for its resistance and some of the barriers in&nbsp;breeding programme.

Tomato Leaf Curl Disease: A Review

<div>Background: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the major nutrient-rich food widely consumed in India and being perishable in nature, it cannot be stored for longer periods. Edible coatings based on natural ingredients is now a days being widely used to extend the shelf life of perishable fruits and vegetables. In the present study the impact of aloevera gel and corn starch coatings on quality attributes and shelf life of tomato was assessed.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Two lots of tomatoes -one coated with aloevera gel and the other coated with corn starch coating were stored for 21 days under refrigerated condition. Physio-chemical characteristics of tomatoes were assessed at 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days during storage.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The retention of moisture content, colour and firmness were observed better for coated tomatoes than the uncoated ones. The physiological weight loss, ascorbic acid content and total soluble solid content decreased at a higher rate in case of uncoated tomatoes compared to the coated ones. The decay percentage of tomatoes for uncoated, corn starch coated and aloevera coated tomatoes were found as 92%, 10% and 5% respectively. Hence, it can be inferred that both the coating materials have potential to enhance the shelf life of tomatoes.</div>

Enhancement of Shelf Life of Tomato using Edible Coating

<div>Background: Organic agricultural inputs are getting immense importance for enhancing growth, yield and nutritional value of the crop. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of soil application of different doses of fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) on the growth parameters of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: FPH treatment were applied through soil application in three different doses such as 0.5 mL, 2.0 mL and 5.0 mL diluted into 2 liters of water and one control group was maintained that did not receive any FPH but only equal amount of water. The growth parameters in terms of fruit yield, shoot morphology and root morphology were studied. The 0.5 ml dose resulted in the 48% increase in the yield to tomatoes. The dose proportional linear increase in the tomato yield was not observed. All the doses of FPH showed increase in the fresh shoot weight as compared to control, however differentiation with different doses was not profound.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The optimal dose of 0.5 ml showed significantly positive effect on the root morphology. However, the highest dose of 5.0 ml resulted in the negative effect on the root development. This research work demonstrated that optimal dose of the organic biostimulant FPH can help to increase the yield of tomato.</div>

<div>Efficacy of Organic Biostimulant (Fish Protein Hydrolyzate) on the Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)</div>

<div>Background: Humic acid is a natural bio-stimulant, which has a major influence on growth and crop quality. Also, Magnetic water treatment enhances both crop productivity and quality, which leads to the efficient use of cultivated land by using water resources available for crop production. This study aims to determine the effects of magnetized water irrigation and application of humic acid with different concentrations as a bio-stimulation on tomato plants, Solanum Lycopersicon cv. Hybrid &ldquo;86&rdquo;. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted during the tow growing seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Agricultural Experimental Station Farm at Abies region, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Egypt. The experiment design was split-plot with three replications. Two irrigation water treatments (magnetized and non-magnetic water) were arranged in the main plots and four concentrations of humic acid (0, 1, 2 and 3 g L-1) were distributed over sub-plots. 
 
Result: The results showed that irrigation with magnetized water had a positive effect on the vegetative growth traits, yield and its components and the quality of tomato fruits parameters. There was also a clear desirable effect of humic acid addition with different concentrations, as the results indicated that the use of the highest concentration of humic acid (3 g L-1) reflected the highest values for all the studied traits. The results of the interaction between irrigation with magnetized water and application of humic acid showed that the best results and the highest values for all studied characters were recorded when using magnetic water (MW) combined with 3 g L-1 of humic acid (HA), without significant differences from the interaction treatment MW combined with 2 g L-1 HA for most traits. However, the two treatments combinations MW with 2 g L-1 HA and Non-MW with 3 g L-1 HA didn&rsquo;t significant differ from each other for all studied characters at the two growing seasons. These results indicated that using the magnetic water with humic acid led to the possibility of reducing the amount of humic acid by one-third and enhances both crop productivity and quality of tomato plants. Generally, we can recommend using magnetized water irrigation with humic acid addition at concentration of 3.g L-1 or 2.g L-1 to enhance the productivity and quality of the tomato plant.&nbsp;</div>