Lycopene is being called the “world’s most powerful antioxidant,” which can help prevent the development of many forms of cancer, the effect varying with sex and type of cancer.
The best known source of lycopene is in cooked tomatoes or tomato products since lycopene is released from the tomato during cooking. Raw tomatoes have about one-fifth the lycopene “available” content as that found in cooked tomato products.
However, tomato, whether raw or cooked, is still the best source for this antioxidant.Thrips are known to be the vector of TSWV. Symptoms on infected plants include:
- Development of small, dark, circular spots on the leaves.
- Presence of dark, shiny streaks along the stem and petioles.
- Development of white concentric rings on the fruit.
Blotchy ripening is a physiological disorder that affects tomatoes, and can be associated with:
- Boron and potassium deficiencies.
- Excess nitrogen in the soil.
- Overly cool, wet and cloudy weather.
- Extreme heat.
- Dense foliage and compacted soil.
Cultivars vary in susceptibility to this disorder.