Common Name: Currant Tomato

General Information

Solanum pimpinellifolium is an annual to biennial plant with slender branches that are erect initially, later becoming procumbent or decumbent; it can grow up to 3 metres tall[].
A cultivated form of tomato with a small but delicious tasting fruit, it is often treated as a separate species[].
The plant has been introduced as a crop into the Galapagos, where it has shown a tendency to invade disturbed areas. It is of particular concern there due to possible hybridization with native Solanaceae[].

Known Hazards

All green parts of the plant are poisonous[, ].
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

Original habitat is obscure, probably Western S. America as a cultivated form of Solanum lycopersicum

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Biennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Solanum pimpinellifolium is found in the tropical and subtropical zones of S. America. Plants are not frost-hardy, but they can be grown outdoors in warmer parts of the temperate zone as a spring-sown annual started off under glass in the spring.
Requires a rich well-drained soil in a sunny position.
In cool wet summers the total yields are likely to be low[].
The plant has been introduced as a crop into the Galapagos, where it has shown a tendency to invade disturbed areas. It is of particular concern there due to possible hybridization with native Solanaceae[].
There are some named varieties[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[, , ]. Sweet and delicious, it makes an excellent dessert fruit and is also used in savoury dishes as a vegetable[]. The red, globose fruit is rather small and fiddly, about 10 - 15mm in diameter, but it is produced in quite large bunches and is well worth the effort of picking[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, ]. The seed is small and it would be very fiddly to utilize. It is only viable to use the seed as a source of oil if large quantities of the plants are being grown for their fruits and the seed is not wanted.

Medicinal

The pulped fruit is an extremely beneficial skin-wash for people with oily skin. Sliced fruits are a quick and easy first aid treatment for burns, scalds and sunburn[].

A decoction of the root is ingested in the treatment of toothache[].

The skin of tomato fruits is a good source of lycopine, a substance that has been shown to protect people from heart attacks. It seems to be more effective when it is cooked and so can be obtained from food products such as tomato ketchup and tinned tomatoes[].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and severe headaches[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The strong aroma of this plant is said to repel insects from nearby plants[, , ].

Other Uses

A semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. Used in making soap[, , ]. See the notes above regarding utilization.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse. Germination is usually quick and good. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich compost as soon as the first true leaf appears and plant them out after the last expected frosts.
Seed can also be sown in situ under a cloche at the end of mid spring, though in a cool summer the results may be disappointing.
The seedcoat may carry tomato mosaic virus. However, by sowing the seed 15mm deep the seedcoat will remain below the soil surface when the seed germinates and the disease will be inactivated[].