Makoi is also known as Black Nightshade

It is native to Eurasia and was introduced in America, Australia and South Africa.

Its parts can be toxic to livestocks and human.

Makoi parts are used in traditional medicines

It is an annual weed that grows up to 60 cm tall.

Makoi is cultivated throughout dry parts of India, majorly in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Solanales
• Family: Solanaceae
• Genus: Solanum
• Species: nigrum

The whole Makoi plant is economically important.

Benefits of Makoi:

• Used as an Anti inflammatory
  
• Used as an Antihepatic
• It is an Antioxidant
• Makoi has Anti-hyperlipidemic properties
• It is a Diuretic
• Used as a Diaphoretic
• Benificial in Skin diseases
• Used as a veterinary medicine

Makoi is a common herb or short lived perennial shrub

It reaches a height of 30-120 cm 

Its Leaves are ovate to heart shaped with wavy or toothed edge with long petiole

Makoi flowers and fruits are arranged in umbelliform

Flowers have greenish to whitish petals, recurved when aged, surrounded by bright yellow anthers. 

Makoi fruits are berries which are dull black to purple coloured. In some genotypes, berries when ripe turn red

The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.

• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Snout Beetle, Gall Mite, Mealy Bugs and Aphids
    
  • Major Diseases: Leaf Spots, Rust, Sooty Molds, Basal  Stem Rot, Root Rot 
• Abiotic Causes:
  • Slightly tolerant to drought
  • Sensitive to water stagnation