Previously known as: Lycopersicum esculentum

Where would we be without tomatoes? This amazing ubiquitous fruit (or perhaps vegetable?) dominates the cuisine of countries around the world, yet its probable parent, pimpinellifolium, supposedly originated in western regions of South America, possibly from Peru and Ecuador, although there are many other species that have doubtless contributed to produce the tomatoes we enjoy today. For example, the Galapagos , Solanum cheesmaniae is a close relative of Solanum lycopersicum that is salt-tolerant and tasty. However, if you want to germinate the seeds, remember to collect them after they have passed through the gut of a giant Galapagos tortoise.

Spanish exploration and conquest of Central and South America was the precursor to the eventual introduction of tomatoes to Europe and it is probable that tomatoes grown in Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital of Mexico, conquered by Cortes in 1519, were transported by the conquistadors back to Europe.

Tomatoes belong to the Nightshade family, the ; there are about 2700 species in 98 genera widespread across the world, with the greatest concentration in Central and South America. There are many economically important species including potatoes, capsicum, chillies, tobacco, eggplant, and many horticultural (Brugmansia, Brunfelsia, Petunia, Nierembergia) and weed species (Cestrum, Datura, Lycium, many Solanum species).

Galapagos tortoises courtesy David Edgecombe Toxicity is an issue with all Solanaceae, not least with tomatoes which were not readily eaten following their introduction to Europe owing to natural toxic compounds. Almost all parts of the tomato contain a toxic alkaloid tomatine, and also small quantities of solanine, another toxic compound also found in leaves of potatoes. Potatoes and tomatoes are so closely related that it is possible to graft a tomato onto a potato. But make sure the tomato is on top, otherwise you will have potato producing flowers and toxic, green, tomato-like fruit, and no potato tubers on the tomato roots below.

World-wide, tomato production has been estimated at about 170 million tonnes, and although tomatoes play a major role in Italian cuisine and exports, it may surprise you that 30% of the world’s tomatoes are actually grown in China. For those of you who love Italian tinned tomatoes, and ascribe the intense flavour of Italian tinned tomatoes to the rich volcanic soils of Sicily and southern Italy, you might be surprised to find that in fact your favourite Italian tinned tomatoes may have come from the desert oases of western China.

The first written record of tomatoes in Italy comes from the house steward of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo de Medici, in 1548, who reported the safe arrival of tomatoes sent from Florence. However it was not until around 1800 that tomatoes became an important part of Italian cuisine.

Apeda, AgriExchange India: http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/Market%20Profile/MOA/Product/Tomato.pdf The Guardian Feb 27 2013: http://eol.org/pages/392557/overview The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/15/italys-kebab-war-hots-up Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomato Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanaceae Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato Tomato photos: Monika King, Alison Downing Tortoise photos: David Edgecombe

Monika King, David Edgecombe, Prasanth Subramani, Brian Atwell, Alison Downing, Kevin Downing Department of Biological Sciences