Some modern treatments, such as Jørgensen, P. M., M. Nee & S. G. Beck. (eds.) 2011. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de Bolivia, have merged the genus Cyphomandra into Solanum. This treatment is gaining wider acceptance and so we have now (October 2014) transferred all Cyphomandra species to Solanun[].

Common Name: Guave Tamarillo

General Information

Solanum diploconos is a fast-growing, but short-lived evergreen shrub or small tree growing 1 - 4 metres tall[].
The plant has been tried as a fruit crop in New Zealand, but apparently without commercial success. The thick, leathery mesocarp and glandular puberulence of the berry will probably be obstacles to its acceptance as a fruit crop[]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental due to its small size and attractive flowers and foliage[].
The forests that make up the natural habitat of this species have suffered heavy declines as a result of human activity over the past centuries. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

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, Paraguay, Brazil.

Habitat

Clearings and forest edges in Atlantic coastal rainforest and Araucaria forest at elevations from 50 - 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics to tropics. Plants fruit best with cool temperatures in the growing season[].
Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[]. Prefers a light fertile soil[]. Dislikes drought[]. Plants are very prone to wind damage[].
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 and start to degenerate after about 8 years[].
Plants are probably insensitive to day-length[].
This species has a greater tolerance to powdery mildew than the tree tomato and a smaller more robust stature[].
Plants have a shallow spreading root system and resent surface hoeing, they are best given a good mulch[].
Plants usually ripe their fruit over a period of time, though pruning methods can be used to produce a peak time of fruiting[].
The leaves have a pungent smell[].
Plants are subject to attacks by red spider mites.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The small orange fruit is somewhat acid, the fruit is juicy and resembles a tree tomato in flavour[]. It is more like a guava, but not very exciting when eaten out of hand[]. The dried fruit loses its leatheriness and has a pleasant, sour taste similar to dried tamarinds[]. The yellow to orange, ellipsoidal fruits are 2 - 6cm long and 2 - 3cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

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[].