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Common Name: Tree Tomato

General Information

Solanum betaceum is a fast-growing but short-lived, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 2 - 7 metres tall[, ]. The bole is short, with thick lateral branches[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, which is very popular in some areas. It also has medicinal uses and supplies dyestuff and tannins. The plant is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit in sub-tropical areas and the higher elevations of tropical zones[, , ].

Known Hazards

The unripe fruit is slightly toxic[].
Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most species in this genus also contain toxic alkaloids. Whilst these alkaloids can make the plant useful in treaing a range of medical conditions, they can also cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, salivation, drowsiness, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weakness and respiratory depression[].
Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[].

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Argentina, Bolivia, Peru.

Habitat

Dry soils at forest margins[]. Open forests at medium to high elevations[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects, Self, Wind
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants grow best at low elevations in the subtropics and medium to higher elevations in the tropics, where they can succeed at elevations up to 2,800 metres. They grow best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 22°c, but can tolerate 10 - 30°c[, ]. They can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower[]. They prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 2,600mm, but tolerate 600 - 4,000mm[, ]. Plants are probably insensitive to day-length[].
Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[, ]. Prefers a light, mildly acid, fertile soil[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.3 - 7, tolerating 5.8 - 7.5[]. Dislikes drought[]. Plants are very prone to wind damage[]. Plants have a shallow spreading root system and resent surface hoeing, they are best given a good mulch[].
A very fast growing plant, it starts to fruit within two years from seed[] and reaches peak production in 3 - 4 years[]. Trees are, however, short-lived - the life of a commercial plantation is about 8 years[].
Plants grow, flower and fruit best in areas where there is a distinct cooling of a night time - the fruit also develop a better flavour[].
Plants usually ripen their fruit over a period of time, though pruning methods can be used to produce a peak time of fruiting[]. Trees can flower and fruit all year round[].
Yields of about 20 kilos of fruit per tree per year, equating to 15 - 17 tonnes per hectare, are achieved in New Zealand[].
There are some named varieties[].
This species does not hybridize easily with other members of the genus[].
The leaves are large and have a pungent smell[, ].
Plants are subject to attacks by red spider mites.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. The flavour can vary considerably from tree to tree. The best forms, which are juicy and sub-acid, can be eaten out of hand, added to fruit salads, or used like tomatoes in green salads and sandwiches[, , ]. More commonly, the fruits are used unripe in chutney, curry and hot dishes, whilst the mature fruits are used in stews, soups, stuffings, cakes, jellies, jams etc[, , , ]]. The fruit can also be used to make a juice - in South America such juices are often blended with milk, ice and sugar to make tasty drinks[]. The fruit contains about 150 IU vitamin A per 100g, 25mg vitamin C, it is rich in vitamin E and iron but low in carbohydrate[]. The yellow or orange to deep red or almost purple, egg-shaped fruits are 4 - 10cm long and 3 - 5cm wide[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves are used to treat inflammation of the liver[1783[.
The leaves are warmed then wrapped around the neck as a remedy for sore throat[, , ].

The juice is used to treat anaemia and tonsillitis[]. The fruit pulp, after having been cooked in embers, is used as a poultice for inflamed tonsils[].

The plant was known as 'vegetable mercury' in Jamaica because of its presumed therapeutic value to the liver[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown with crops such as coffee[303.
Green manure or cover crops of grass and clover can be grown between rows[].
New Zealand growers often plant this species as an intercrop in young citrus orchards[].

Other Uses

The unripe fruits contain tannins[].
The leaves have been used as a dye[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The seed usually germinates within 4 weeks at 15°c[], within 2 weeks at 25°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of greenwood in a frame[].