A plant expert at Oregon State University developed a new type of tomato with blueberry-like health benefits. The purple tomato contains anthocyanins, a healthy antioxidant pigment found in blueberries, Phys.org tells us in a report.
Jim Myers, an OSU College of Agricultural Sciences professor, spent ten years developing Indigo Rose, the first purple tomato with anthocyanins. The Indigo Rose has already been licensed or is in the process of being licensed across much of Canada, Europe, Japan, and South Africa.
Myers has since added four more purple tomato varieties to his line, the most recent being Midnight Roma, which was made available in 2021.
Tomato Now with Blueberry Health Benefits
Anthocyanins are known for their potential health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
According to studies, the said antioxidant is commonly found in various species of berries. Myers' purple tomato contains more than ten times the amount of anthocyanins found in regular red tomatoes.
A separate study tells us that purple tomatoes' higher levels of anthocyanins actually work to double their shelf life when compared to red tomatoes. This is because anthocyanins delay over-ripening and make the fruit less susceptible to fungus attack after harvest.
How Myers Created the PurpleTomato
The development of the purple tomato was not an easy task. Myers and his colleagues used a breeding method that crossed wild tomato plants with cultivated varieties and selected the best-performing offspring. This method is time-consuming, but it is an essential step in the process of developing new plant varieties.
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"Our big discovery was asking the question, 'What would happen if we cross the sources of purple fruit that originated from different wild species?'" Myers said in a news release.
"I think it'll be popular among home gardeners, canners, and high-end chefs," Myers tells Capital Press.
"I also think there's potential for it to go into the processing trade, more in the specialty processing sector. It makes a very pretty sauce, very dark red, as you can imagine.
The Rise of Modified Tomatoes
While Myers' purple tomato is not genetically modified, a genetically modified purple tomato from Europe was recently approved for sale in the US.
This genetically modified tomato has been engineered to have high levels of anthocyanins. However, due to GMO regulations in Europe, it will not be sold there.
The development of the purple tomato is an exciting breakthrough in the world of horticulture. Myers' work emphasizes the importance of plant breeding and the potential health benefits of eating a variety of fruits and vegetables.
The purple tomato is a prime example of how science and technology can be used to improve our health and well-being.
The development of the purple tomato with blueberry-like health benefits is an exciting breakthrough in the world of horticulture.
The purple tomato, due to its high levels of anthocyanins, has the potential to improve our health in a variety of ways.
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