INTRODUCTION
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant
Solanum lycopersicum. The word "tomato"
may actually originate from the Nahautl
(Aztecan) word “tomatl” meaning "the
swelling fruit” Originally, tomato was
named after the food family to which it
belongs to the Solanaceae. While it is
botanically a fruit, it is considered a
vegetable for culinary purposes. The tomato
fruit is consumed in diverse ways, including
raw, as an ingredient in many dishes and
sauces and in drinks. The fruit is rich in
lycopene, which may have beneficial health
effects. The tomato belongs to the
nightshade family. The plants typically grow
to 1–3 meters (3–10 ft) in height and have a