Food Plants International

253
Names
English: Tomato Scientific name: Lycopersicon esculentum Miller
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Solanum lycopersicum L.
Tok ples: Plant family: Solanaceae
Description: A short lived perennial plant. It is upright
but with weak stems. It can grow to 2 m tall with
support for the stems. The stems have long hairs. It is
bad smelling. The leaves are deeply lobed with an odd
number of leaflets. They have irregular teeth around
the edge. There are up to 12 star shaped flowers on
each raceme. Flowers are yellow. The fruit are round
and red when ripe. Yellow coloured fruit also occur.
There are many varieties.
Distribution: It grows from sea level to 2400 m
altitude in the tropics. It needs to be grown in fertile
soil. For best production it requires much water, plenty
of sunshine and low night temperatures. It is frost
susceptible. In Nepal it grows to 1400 m altitude. It
suits hardiness zones 9-12.
Cultivation: Plants are sown from seeds. These are normally sown in a nursery and
transplanted. They can also be grown from cuttings. To give fewer and larger fruit the side
branches of upright types are removed. Upright plant types need to be tied to stakes. Plants are
often grafted into stronger rootstocks.
Production: Harvesting commences after about 14 weeks. Yields can be 3-4 kg of fruit per
plant.
Use: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.
Caution: Although in a lot of places in Papua New Guinea the leaves are eaten this is probably
not a good idea. Leaves and green fruit are poisonous.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg mg
Fruit 93.0 88 1.0 0.6 45 26 0.1
Insects:
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) Noctuidae (LEP) Black cutworm
Chrysodeixis eriosoma Doubleday Noctuidae (LEP) Green looper
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) Noctuidae (LEP) Tomato grub
Leptoglossus australis (Fabricius) Coreidae (HEM) Black leaf-footed bug
Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) Pentatomidae (HEM) Green vegetable bug
Psylliodes sp. Chrysomelidae (COL)
Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) Noctuidae (LEP) Cluster caterpillar
Diseases:
Target spot/ early blight Fungus Alternaria solani Sorauer
Fruit rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii
And Phytophthora nicotianae
Collar rot Fungus Athelia rolfsii
And Pythium butleri