Watering tomatoes with diluted seawater
can boost their content of disease-fighting antioxidants and may lead
to healthier salads, appetizers, and other tomato-based foods,
scientists in Italy report.

Besides their use in a variety of ethnic food dishes, tomatoes are one
of the most commonly grown home garden vegetables, particularly cherry
tomatoes. Scientists have linked tomatoes to several health benefits,
including protection against prostate cancer and heart disease.
Researchers have known for years that seawater does not stimulate the
growth of tomatoes, but scientists know little about its effects on the
nutritional content of the vegetables.

In the new study, Riccardo Izzo and colleagues grew cherry tomatoes in
both freshwater and in a dilute solution of 12 percent seawater. They
found that ripe tomatoes grown in the salty water showed higher levels
of vitamin C, vitamin E, dihydrolipoic acid, and chlorogenic acid. All
of these substances are antioxidants that appear to fight heart
disease, cancer, aging, and other conditions. Using saltwater to
irrigate tomato crops also appears to be a promising alternative to
freshwater irrigation, especially in the wake of water shortages in
some parts of the world, the researchers note.

The article "Irrigation with Diluted Seawater Improves the Nutritional
Value of Cherry Tomatoes"
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry