Posted on 06/01/2009 2:26:13 PM PDT by Daffynition
Scientists have developed purple tomatoes which they hope may be able to keep cancer at bay.
The fruit are rich in an antioxidant pigment called anthocyanin which is thought to have anti-cancer properties.
A team from the John Innes Centre, Norwich, created the tomatoes by incorporating genes from the snapdragon flower, which is high in anthocyanin.
The study, published in Nature Biotechnology, found mice who ate the tomatoes lived longer.
Anthocyanins, found in particularly high levels in berries such as blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry, have been shown to help significantly slow the growth of colon cancer cells.
They are also thought to offer protection against cardiovascular disease and age-related degenerative diseases.
There is also evidence that the pigments have anti-inflammatory properties, help boost eyesight, and may help stave off obesity and diabetes.
The John Innes team is investigating ways to increase the levels of health-promoting compounds in more commonly eaten fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes already contain high levels of beneficial antioxidant compounds, such as lycopene and flavonoids.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Hmmm... purple ketchup. And purple pizzas.
DO they splatter well when thrown?
So, in other words, scientists have just managed to re-invent the eggplant.
I’m growing an heirloom variety of these. Well I will be when the mini-ice age is over.
Some heirloom tomato varieties from
that are purple are:
1. BLACK CHERRY
2. BLACK PRINCE
3. BLACK CRIMSON
There are others.
Their flavor is exceptionally wonderful.
Which specific variety?
See my post above, please.
I’m growing Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes. They were my favorite tasting tomato last year.
-PJ
Brandywine black.
Also, brandywine pink, Dr. Wyches Yellow, German Red Strawberry and new this year is Cuostralee (feeling risky this year, lol)
As I said earlier, the weather up here simply won’t allow me to put these plants in the ground. My Beans are literally blooming on my dining table.
Extended forecast isn’t very promising.
Hmmmm.
Sounds great.
Being 1/8th Cherokee (at least), I should get some. Where from?
LOL.
Not that I’ve observed.
Wow.
Build a buried greenhouse . . . wherein the ground stays about 55 degrees and the sun raises it most of the rest of the way needed. Just the polycarbonate double or more glazed roofing is above ground or almost even with the ground.
My insulated passive raised glazed bed worked—very leafy tomato plants all winter.
However, the daytime temps could be as high as 120 degrees and night time temps in the 40’s.
Tomatoes set their blooms above 56 degrees and stop pollinating above 90 degrees. Wheee.
We like purple potatoes.
Carbon (a black/purple — can’t wait)
Black Truffle Hybrid (Burpee)
Sun Gold
Yellow Gooseberry
Burpee’s Big Beef Hybrid
Funny you should say that because I noticed a few years back that all the old varieties of many veggies are purple. Beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, peppers, etc, etc. . .
And the heirloom variety potatoes are superior storage potatoes.
Well I live on Post right now so I’d have to go through eight acts of congress to achieve something like what you suggest but. . . I won’t be here forever!!!
Thanks for some good pointers.
Indeed.
That would be a problem! LOL.
Though you might be able to get some stimulus money to do a demonstration project to save fuel and help the kitchen be more self-sufficient???
Blessings,
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