tomato

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tomato
• fiaschello
• tomato
• garden tomato

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lycopersicon esculentum
• Lycopersicon lycopersicum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. leptophyllum
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. oviforme
• Solanum lycopersicum var. pomiferum
• Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
• Lycopersicon esculentum f. pyriforme
• Solanum lycopersicum var. piriforme
• Lycopersicon lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
• Lycopersicon lycopersicum var. commune
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. pyriforme
• Lycopersicon esculentum subsp. galenii
• Solanum pruniforme
• Solanum lycopersicum var. ribisiodes
• Solanum plukenetii
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. flammatum
• Solanum lycopersicum var. oviforme
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. pruniforme
• Solanum humboldtii
• Solanum luridum
• Solanum pseudolycopersicum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. grandifolium
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. validum
• Amatula flava
• Amatula rubra
• Scubulon humboldtii
• Lycopersicon cerasiforme var. cognitum
• Lycopersicon cerasiforme var. leptophyllum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. bukasovii
• Lycopersicon spurium
• Lycopersicon solanum
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. finiens
• Lycopersicon macrophyllum
• Lycopersicon cerasiforme var. rotundilobum
• Lycopersicon humboldtii
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. cordiforme
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. colombianum
• Lycopersicon galenii
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. umbertianum
• Lycopersicon esculentum subsp. humboldtii
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. amplipinnatum
• Lycopersicon esculentum convar. parvibaccatum
• Lycopersicon esculentum convar. fruticosum
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. perspicuum
• Lycopersicon esculentum convar. infiniens
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. mikadofolium
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. incarnatum
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. persicoides
• Lycopersicon esculentum provar. densifolium
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. cydonicum
• Solanum pyriforme var. uniflorum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. luteum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. commune
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. myrobalaneum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. vulgare
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. humboldtii
• Solanum lycopersicum var. esculentum
• Lycopersicon philippinarum
• Lycopersicon esculentum var. macrocalyx
• Solanum pomiferum
• Solanum spurium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Solanum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Austria. It also occupies significant territories throughout the Czechia-Slovakia region. Finally, its geographical range extends further into Germany, completing its distribution across these central and northern areas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solanum lycopersicum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2500 m AMSL. It is most commonly found within anthropogenic environments, specifically occupying crop fields where it functions as a cultivated species. This wide elevational range allows the plant to adapt to diverse climatic conditions found from lowland plains to high-altitude montane regions, provided it is situated within its preferred agricultural habitats.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Genetics

The genetics of Solanum lycopersicum are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that allows for significant phenotypic variation and evolutionary adaptation. The plant exhibits a varying chromosome number that can manifest as 12, 24, 36, or 48, reflecting different levels of genomic organization and polyploid tendencies within diverse cultivars. However, the standard baseline for the species is defined by a diploid ploidy level of 2, which serves as the fundamental genetic foundation for its inheritance patterns and genome stability. This genomic structure facilitates the expression of diverse traits essential for its medicinal and nutritional profiles, governed by a highly mapped genome that undergoes intricate recombination during meiosis.

Chromosome number :

12,24,36,48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Solanum lycopersicum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental progression—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural classification, it is categorized as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive the unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds, emerging to grow rapidly when environmental conditions become favorable. This therophytic nature ensures that the plant can efficiently exploit seasonal resources to ensure reproductive success before the onset of dormancy or senescence.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Solanum lycopersicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is classified as self-supporting rather than a liana or vine. In terms of stature, the plant height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 3 m, with an average height of approximately 1.5125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.5125 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solanum lycopersicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nature and does not possess the ability to fix nitrogen, relying instead on soil-available nitrogen sources. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by an imparipinnate leaf form, with leaf dimensions showing significant variability; leaf lengths range from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, with a mean length of approximately 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit any form of succulence, maintaining standard leaf water storage characteristics rather than specialized succulent tissues.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

imparipinnate

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

30 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Solanum lycopersicum is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through October, featuring yellow flowers arranged in a cyme inflorescence. These flowers, which range in length from 10 cm to 15 cm, utilize a biotic pollination syndrome primarily mediated by insects. Self-fertilization is a present and functional trait within the plant's reproductive cycle. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a fleshy, indehiscent fruit categorized as a berry, which turns red upon maturity. The dispersal of seeds is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0026514285 g (ranging from 0.00158 g to 0.0033 g) and a length between 1.5 mm and 3 mm. Additionally, the seed volume varies from a minimum of 2.1 mm³ to a maximum of 6 mm³, with a mean volume of 4.05 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

15 cm

Flower length min:

10 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

red

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Inflorescence :

cyme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length max:

3 mm

Seed length min:

1.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0033 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0026514285 g

Seed mass min:

0.00158 g

Seed volume max:

6 mm³

Seed volume mean:

4.05 mm³

Seed volume min:

2.1 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Solanum lycopersicum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root.

Leaf

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Root

1. Integrative cancer therapies

Chemicals

Solanum lycopersicum has 361 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include LYCOPENE, Flavonoids, Jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, CHLOROPHYLL.

LYCOPENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Antioxidants & redox signaling
5. Nutrients

Flavonoids

1. Antioxidants & redox signaling
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Nutrients
4. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
5. Integrative cancer therapies

Jasmonic acid

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Frontiers in microbiology
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Applied and environmental microbiology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

salicylic acid

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Applied and environmental microbiology
4. Plant signaling & behavior
5. Journal of hazardous materials

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
4. Environmental research
5. International journal of biological macromolecules

proline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
3. 3 Biotech
4. Plant signaling & behavior
5. Scientific reports

ABA

1. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
2. Frontiers in microbiology
3. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
4. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology
3. Journal of experimental botany
4. International journal of biological macromolecules

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Integrative cancer therapies
4. Metabolites

Carotenoids

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Fitoterapia
3. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
4. Journal of medicinal food

Activities

Solanum lycopersicum has 839 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science
3. Antioxidants & redox signaling
4. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
5. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
4. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Biology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. Biology

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Solanum lycopersicum has 60 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, salt stress, drought, salinity stress, cold stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations