Role of Micronutrients in Tomato Cultivation

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is one of the most important member of solanceous vegetables. It was originated in Peruvian and Mexican regions. Tomato is one of the important "protective food", both because of its special nutritive value and widespread cultivation. It is one of the world's largest vegetable crop after potato and sweet potato. Tomatoes are used for soups, salad, ketchup, puree, sauces and in many other ways.Tomato is a warm season crop. In Maharashtra, main season of cultivation of tomato is rabi, fruit set and lycopene development are the main constrains in summer cultivation, while fungal and viral diseases particularly early blight and spotted wilt virus in kharif season. Beside these constrains considering longer and continuous demand it is grown throughout the year. The summer cultivation is concentrated in Nasik, Ahmednagar and Pune district. The micronutrients play a major role in plant growth. Boron plays a vital role in pollen tube growth and pollen germination. It is involved in the transportation of carbohydrate in the plant. It is involved indirectly in nitrogen metabolism, fertilization, active salt.