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    Nightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses
    Nightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses
    Nightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses
    Ebook23 pages2 hours

    Nightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses

    By Roby Jose Ciju

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    The word “nightshade” is often used in herbal medicines to refer a poisonous species of plant, but a highly regarded medicinal plant, belonging to the plant family Solanaceae. This plant is often called ‘deadly nightshade’ because of its toxic properties. Common name of this medicinal plant is ‘belladonna.’ Nightshade family is mainly known for its toxic and poisonous member plants and many of them are medicinal plants. However, the nightshade family i.e. Solanaceae family includes some of the most popular and economically important vegetable plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, tomatillos, brinjals or eggplants, chile peppers, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers also. These vegetables are very popular among consumers and are used by the whole world on daily basis. These vegetables are often referred as ‘nightshade vegetables’ or ‘Solanaceous vegetables.’ In other words, ‘Nightshade Vegetables’ are a group of vegetables belonging to the plant family Solanaceae.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAGRIHORTICO
    Release dateMar 18, 2021
    Nightshade Vegetables: Growing Practices and Food Uses

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      Nightshade Vegetables - Roby Jose Ciju

      Peppers

      Nightshade Vegetables: An Introduction

      The word "nightshade" is often used in herbal medicines to refer a poisonous species of plant, but a highly regarded medicinal plant, belonging to the plant family Solanaceae. This plant is often called ‘deadly nightshade’ because of its toxic properties. Common name of this medicinal plant is ‘belladonna.’ Nightshade family is mainly known for its toxic and poisonous member plants and many of them are medicinal plants. However, the nightshade family i.e. Solanaceae family includes some of the most popular and economically important vegetable plants such as potatoes, tomatoes, tomatillos, brinjals or eggplants, chile peppers, bell peppers and jalapeno peppers also. These vegetables are very popular among consumers and are used by the whole world on daily basis. These vegetables are often referred as ‘nightshade vegetables’ or ‘Solanaceous vegetables.’ In other words, ‘Nightshade Vegetables’ are a group of vegetables belonging to the plant family Solanaceae.

      Now let us have a look at the ‘Family-Wise’ classification of popular vegetables below for the better understanding of different types of vegetables:

      Family

      Edible Parts of Solanaceous Vegetables: Based on the edible parts of the vegetables, they may be classified as fruit vegetables, leafy vegetables, root vegetables, and flower vegetables. In potatoes, stem tubers or modified underground storage stems are used as vegetables. In brinjals or eggplants, tomatoes, tomatillos, and chile peppers, the edible parts are fruits and seeds.

      Nightshade Vegetables and Toxicity: Even though nightshade family contains some toxic plants such as belladonna, the food crops under this family are comparatively safe to eat. Tomatoes, eggplants, brinjals and chili peppers are not only safe foods but highly nutritious also. In fact, tomatoes and chili peppers such as bell peppers and jalapenos are considered as ‘vegetable superfoods’ due to the high nutrient-density of these foods.

      There is a misconception about the toxicity of Solanaceous vegetables. Solanaceous vegetables may naturally contain negligible amounts of solanine which are not considered as toxic in minute quantities. However, in high amounts, solanine may be toxic, which is very unlikely to occur. No one eats high amounts of vegetables as staple foods.

      What is Solanine? Solanine is a toxic glycoalkaloid compound found in the leaves, fruits and stems of all Solanaceous plants. In vegetable plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and chile peppers, the edible parts of the plants have negligible amounts of solanine which do not cause any health risks. However, do not eat leaves of Solanaceous plants as leaves may contain higher concentrations of solanine which may be toxic to health.

      Food Poisoning of Green Potatoes: In one gram of edible potatoes, approx. 0.2g of solanine is present which is not toxic. Potato flesh contains very less solanine but potato peels contain more solanine content. When potatoes are exposed to light, they turn green due to the accelerated production of solanine. Such potatoes are not edible. Eating such potatoes may cause food poisoning.

      Solanine Toxicity: If solanine is ingested in high amounts (200–400 mg), toxicity symptoms appear. Symptoms of solanine poisoning includes neurological disorders such as hallucinations, paralysis, head ache, dizziness, and temporary memory loss as well as gastrointestinal disorders such as dryness of throat, nausea, stomach ache, diarrhoea and vomiting. In children, a moderate amount of solanine (20–40 mg) is sufficient to cause toxicity.

      Some major alkaloids present in nightshade vegetables: Apart from solanine, other alkaloids are also present in Solanaceous vegetables. For example, in tomato, tomatine is present. In chile peppers, capsaicin is present. Most of these alkaloids are antioxidants and beneficial for our health.

      Allergy to Solanaceous/Nightshade Vegetables: Some people are allergic to nightshade vegetables due to the presence of alkaloids in these vegetables. Such people should not consume these vegetables in its raw form. Only cooked vegetables should be consumed in such cases as cooking minimises the content of allergens present in the vegetables.

      Tomato

      Tomato plants are suited for growing in a wide range of climates. It can be grown in greenhouses throughout the year. Tomato plants are suitable for hydroponic growing also. Tomato is the one of the most popular and largest cultivated vegetables with variations in size, colour and shape. Size varies from small (tiny tomatoes) to large (plum tomatoes) while shape varies from round, oblong and globe. Tomatoes are available in many colours also such as green, pink, red, yellow, and orange. Tomatoes are also one of the largest canned vegetables. Tomatoes are also known for its highest nutritional value. Tomato is counted among the top 50 nutrient-dense, plant-based foods.

      Figure 1: Different Types of Tomatoes

      Taxonomy: Detailed taxonomic classification of tomato plant is given below:

      Kingdom

      Origin and Distribution: Tomatoes are believed to be originated in South America. Major producers of tomatoes are China, Europe, India, and the USA.

      Plant Description: Tomato plants are grown for its fruits, i.e. tomatoes. Tomatoes are botanically fruits called ‘berries’ but considered as culinary vegetables as they are used as vegetables rather than as fruits.

      Two types of tomato plants are widely grown. These are Determinate (bush type) tomato plants and Indeterminate (vine type) tomato plants. Bush-type plants are annuals that stop growing at a certain height presenting a bush-like appearance; their stems are strong and they produce only one crop, all at once. Determinate bush tomato plants are suitable for container gardening. Indeterminate tomato plants grow up to 3 meters in height; stem is tender and vine-like and often needs support; these plants are perennials but cultivated as annuals; fruits are available throughout the year and therefore preferred for commercial cultivation.

      Figure 2: A Tomato Plant

      Varieties: Based on the size of the fruits, tomatoes are classified into 7 groups such as beefsteak tomatoes, plum tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, Campari tomatoes, Tomberries, and globe tomatoes.

      Beefsteak tomatoes: Large tomatoes having 4inches or more diameter, round shaped with thin skin and are used for sandwiches

      Plum tomatoes: Thick and fleshy, oblong-shaped tomatoes having 3-4 inches length and 2 inches diameter with high TSS (total soluble solids); suitable for canning, sauce and paste

      Cherry tomatoes: Small, round tomatoes of cherry-size; they are with less than one inch in diameter and sweet in taste

      Grape tomatoes: Small, round tomatoes of grape-size; they look like tiny variations of plum tomatoes

      Campari tomatoes: Bigger than cherry tomatoes, but smaller than plum tomatoes

      Tomberries: They are very tiny tomatoes having about 5 mm in diameter

      Globe tomatoes: Tomatoes of average size, globe-shaped and having a diameter between 2 and 2.5 cm and commercially cultivated for processing and fresh consumption purposes

      Figure 3: Seedling of Tomato Plant

      Growing Practices for Tomato: A detailed account of growing practices for tomato plants is given below:

      Climate and Soil: Tomato is a warm season crop and is prone to frost. Tomatoes may be grown at temperatures ranging from 18 OC to 27 OC. Tomatoes favour direct sunlight. Variations in temperature and light intensity may affect the fruit-set, pigmentation and nutritive value of the fruit. The best soil for tomato cultivation is well-drained, rich, fertile loamy soils. Optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 7.0.

      Sowing and Planting: Seeds are sown in well-prepared nursery beds. For winter crop in tropics, seeds may be sown in June-July and for the spring-summer crop, seed are sown in November. Two to three sowings/year can be done in regions with mild climate; in the hills the seeds are sown in March-April. There are about 300 seeds in one gram. About 400 to 500 grams of seed are needed for one hectare area. (Note: 1 hectare/ha = 10, 000 square meter). Nursery-raised seedlings may be transplanted when they reach 10-15 cm in height. Spacing for the winter crop is 75x60 cm and for the spring-summer crop is 75x45 cm.

      Manures and Fertilizers: 20 to 25 tons FYM (farmyard manure)/compost per hectare should be incorporated in the soil at the time of land preparation. (Note: 1 ton = 1000 kg). 275 kg of ammonium sulphate/ha is applied as top dressing one month after planting. Foliar application of 35 kg of nitrogen and 45 kg phosphate per hectare in four or five sprays may be beneficial for the crop. Concentration of foliar spray should be less than 1%; concentrations higher than 1% may scorch the leaves. The fertilizer application for tomato plants may be scheduled as follows:

      Basal dose, at the time of land preparation

      Irrigation: Need-based watering is done for tomato plants; however, both overwatering and insufficient irrigation should be avoided. Young plants need frequent watering until they get established. During summers, irrigation is needed at weekly intervals. During winters, irrigation may be done at fortnightly intervals. Mulching is a good practice to conserve soil moisture. Mulching also suppresses weed growth. Tomato plants can successfully be grown as companion plants along with Carrots, Parsley, Dill, Mints, Dandelions, Asparagus, and Marigolds.

      Aftercare: Tomato plants may need training and pruning in some cases. In case of training, single stem training is practiced where all young shoots are removed from the main stem. Weed control is an important practice; generally manual weed control is practiced. Some growers use hybrid seeds for growing tomatoes; however, cost of growing is higher in such cases.

      Diseases: Tomato plants are affected by a number of diseases. A list of these diseases is given below:

      Damping off: A fungal disease caused by Phytophthora spp. and Pythium spp. and the disease affects nursery raised seedlings; affected plants rot and die

      Fusarium Wilt: A fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum; affected plants start wilting

      Early Blight: A fungal disease caused by Alternaria solani; it affects the foliage and causes brown spots on immature fruits

      Late Blight: A fungal disease caused by Phytophthora spp. ; it attacks the leaves and stems as well as the fruits

      Leaf Mould: It is caused by the fungus Cladosporium fulvum; there will be yellowish green blotches on the upper surface of the leaves accompanied by grey or greenish brown mouldy spots

      Bacterial Canker: This is a bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium spp.; there will be cankers/light brown or dark streaks inside stems

      Bacterial Wilt: A serious bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas solanacearum

      Leaf Curl: A serious viral disease spread by white flies; leaves of affected plants

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