Botanico

Plant profile

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum L.

Family: Solanaceae · Genus: Solanum

Photo of Tomato
Image: User:Luigi Chiesa. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Sun-loving crop for gardens or large pots with support.

From Wikipedia

The tomato is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from western South America, and may have been domesticated there, in Mexico, or in Central America. The Spanish introduced tomatoes to Eurasia in the Columbian exchange in the 16th century.

Tomato — Text CC BY-SA. See the original article.

Open-data facts

Life form
Develops by leaning, without being a tree.
Climate
Ecology of a rainy tropical climate.
Origin / area
Geographical area of origin: as a cultivated variety from Peru.
Native distribution
Its native range spans: Peru, Western South America, South America.
Documented uses
Medicines · Vertebrate poisons

Traits (USDA)

Botanical group
It is part of the dicots, the most common group in garden and vegetable plants.
Duration
It's a mixed cycle species (annual/perennial) depending on conditions.
Growth habit
Grows as a perennial or annual broadleaf herb.

Recommended products for Tomato

    Ecological interactions

    • Known consumers:

      Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Nesidiocoris tenuis, Meloidogyne incognita, Agrotis ipsilon, Peridroma saucia, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bombus pauloensis, Neoleucinodes elegantalis…

    • Known pathogenic agents:

      Tospovirus Groundnut bud necrosis virus, Autographa gamma, Spodoptera litura, Chrysodeixis chalcites, Helicoverpa armigera, Neoleucinodes elegantalis, Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2, Tuta absoluta…

    • Who carries the pollen of this plant:

      Bombus pauloensis, Apis mellifera, Lonchophylla concava, Agylla nr argentifera 1154, Halictidae, Bombus lapidarius, Self pollinated, Anthophora…

    • Serves as a host to:

      Septoria lycopersici, Fulvia fulva, Ascochyta socia, Alternaria tomato, Septoria hortensis, Remotididymella destructiva, Alternaria solani, Didymella lycopersici…

    • Species it can parasitize:

      Bemisia tabaci

    Basic care

    Watering
    A mix that dries out completely slows growth.
    Light
    Sunny outdoors or a strongly exposed window.
    Temperature
    Don’t leave it outdoors in hard frosts.
    Humidity
    Avoid both very dry air and constant vapour.

    Pet toxicity

    Can be toxic to cats and dogs if chewed or swallowed.

    Cats: yes (toxic). Dogs: yes (toxic).

    Sources