単細胞生物学

概要

Tomato Production and Associated Stress: a Case of African Climate

Oluwatosin Ayobami OGUNSOLA, Grace Ayomide OGUNSINA

Tomato is an economically important crop by reason of it being the second horticultural crop produced in terms of yield and consumption globally. Aside its health benefits, tomato has become a commodity of pride amongst vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians due to its wide variety of usage, both domestically and industrially. This wide usage has conferred great importance and increased global demand all year round hence creating a large market, both locally and internationally. However, there are a number of constraints associated with tomato production but the most significant are biotic and abiotic stress whose expressions and severity varies across the growing climates around the world. The tropical and sub-tropical climates of Africa are amongst the notable growing zones with Egypt (North Africa) and Nigeria (West Africa) holding the 5th and 10th position respectively on the global production output (tonnes). The summation of production output from Egypt and Nigeria surpasses that from the remaining countries thus making the duo key potential production zones for delivery of scientific innovation in improving tomato production per unit area within the African climate.