Publication
from Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide
version 4.0
by C. Orwa, A. Mutua, R. Kindt, R. Jamnadass and S. Anthony
Cyphomandra
betacea (Cav.)
Sendtner
Local Names:
English (Cape tomato, tomatillo, tree tomato); French (tomato de la
Paz, arbre a tomates); German (Baumtomatenstrauch); Italian (pomodoro
arboreo); Luganda (munyanya); Malay (pokok tomato); Portuguese (tomato
de árvore); Spanish (tomate serrano, Palo de tomate, tomate
silvestre, tomato de arbol); Swahili (mgogwe); Thai (makhua-thetton);
Trade name (tamarillo)
Family:
Solanaceae
Botanic
Description
Cyphomandra
betacea is a semi-woody shrub or small tree 2-3 m high,
rarely 5 m. It is unarmed, pubescent, with a short trunk and stout
lateral branches. The bark is grey.
Leaves alternate, simple, entire, usually grouped at the branch tips,
with a robust petiole, 4-8 cm long. The limb is large, 15-30 x 10-20
cm, ovate, shortly acuminate, with a cordate base. Young leaves covered
on both surfaces with a soft pubescence; with age, the upper surface
becomes glabrous. Midrib and principal veins prominent on both surfaces.
Flowers fleshy pink, in groups of 3-10 in axillary cymes or racemes,
near the ends of the branches. They are hermaphroditic, pentamerous,
fragrant, pedicellate, 13-15 mm diameter. Calyx campanulate with
broadly ovate, subacute lobes, which are thick and accrescent in fruit.
Corolla rotate-campanulate, 12 mm long, with 5 long, narrow, lanceolate
segments; reflexed at the apex. Stamens 5, yellow, inserted at the
throat of the corolla.
Fruit an ovoid berry, measuring 4-6 (max. 10) cm long and 3-5 cm wide.
It is suspended at the end of a long stalk, and surrounded at the base
by the persistent green calyx. Skin is thin, glabrous, smooth,
reddish-brown to violet changing to orange-red at maturity. Some
varieties become deep purple at maturity. Pulp contains numerous small
seeds that are circular, flat, thin and hard.
Biology
C. betacea
is the only member of its genus known to be self-compatible. Flowers
are self-pollinating; wind and insects assist in pollen transfer,
resulting in better fruit set. Fruit ripens over a period of many
months. Pruning may induce flowering; once it begins, maximum fruit
production lasts only 4-5 years, for a period of 5 months per year.
Fruit production begins 1-2 years after sowing and lasts for 8-12 years.
Ecology
A native of the forests of the Andes of Peru and Argentina, C. betacea has been
successfully cultivated throughout the tropics. C. betacea thrives
at elevations of 1000 m and more; it does well even above 2000 m if the
mean monthly temperature remains above 10 deg. C and if frosts - which
kill young plants - are exceptional. At low elevations, the trees do
not flower; cool weather (probably cool nights in particular) promotes
bloom. That is why the crop ripens in the winter in the subtropics.
Flavour develops better under warm sunny days and cool nights of the
dry season in the tropics than during the winter at higher latitudes.
It is presently found in hilly country throughout the tropics. With a
shallow root system, it has little ability to withstand drought and is
easily blown over. The shallow roots and large, soft leaves of C. betacea make it
particularly susceptible to wind damage. They are apparently intolerant
to constant high temperatures and often their fruits fail to mature in
lowland tropical climates owing to excessive heat.
Biophysical
Limits
Altitude: 1 000-3 000 m, Mean annual
temperature: 15-22 deg. C, Mean annual rainfall: 1300-1600 mm
Soil type: Grow best on well drained soils rich in organic
matter and ample moisture. They cannot withstand waterlogging even for
a period of a few days.
Documented
Species Distribution
Native:
Argentina, Bolivia, Peru
Exotic: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados,
Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Grenada, Guadeloupe,
Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica,
Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands
Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St
Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania,
Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, US, Venezuela, Virgin
Islands (US)
The
map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does
neither suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological
zone within that country, nor that the species can not be planted in
other countries than those depicted. Since some tree species are
invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to your
planting site.
Products
Food:
Tamarillos are eaten by scooping out the entire fruit, discarding the
exocarp and outer layer of the mesocarp. The refreshing, raw pulp is
juicy, subacidic, pink, salmon or yellow. The unripe fruit can be used
for chutney, curry and sambal (hot, chilli-based condiment). Only
mature, tree-ripened fruits grown under favourable conditions develop
the full flavour and aroma. The rather sharp, tart flavour typical of
most red cultivars can be reduced by stewing. Properly ripened fruit is
also essential for good quality stews, stuffings, jellies, jams,
desserts and ice cream toppings. The red cultivars cannot be canned, as
the redness signifies the presence of acidity that will corrode tin
cans. The hard seeds may be strained out after boiling. Lime juice and
sugar can be added to taste. Halves may be seasoned and baked or
grilled.
The fruits of C. betacea
are relatively nutritious because of their high vitamin content. They
are rich in beta-carotene, making them good sources of pro-vitamin A,
and they contain large amounts of ascorbic acid or vitamin C. Their
high protein content makes them especially suitable for jam- and
jelly-making. Levels of nitrogen and free amino acids are higher than
those of most fruits except avocados and bananas; the values for
potassium and phosphorus are also high among fruits, which are normally
poor sources of these elements.
Tannin or
dyestuff: The leaves of the tamarillo have been employed
as a dye. The unripe fruits are used in the Colombian tanning industry
to decolour hides.
Medicine:
Warmed leaves are wrapped around the neck as a remedy for sore throat
in Ecuador. The fruit pulp, after having been cooked in embers, is used
as a poultice for inflamed tonsils in Colombia. The species was known
as ‘vegetable mercury’ in Jamaica because of its presumed therapeutic
value to the liver.
Services
Ornamental: C. betacea
is frequently grown as a curiosity in gardens in the temperate regions
of North America. It is a common sight in homegardens of Latin America.
Intercropping: The species can be grown with crops such as
coffee. Green manure or cover crops of grass and clover can be grown
between rows. New Zealand growers often plant C. betacea as an
intercrop in young citrus orchards.
Tree
Management
Cyphomandra
betacea is a fast-growing tree on good sites. Cuttings
give low-branched bushy trees, which may need to be deblossomed to
promote growth in the 1st year. Seedlings do not always come true to
type. They grow vigorously and may reach a height of 1.5-1.8 m before
laterals emerge. The plants grow continuously and easily shed old
leaves. In New Zealand, trees are planted in single or double rows,
e.g. at 2.5 x 2 m or 4.5 x 1.5 m against (3.5 + 1.5) m x 2 m or (4 +
2.5) m x 3 m, giving densities of 2000-1000 plants/ha. Much higher
densities are reported from other countries.
Orchards need to be well drained; often the trees are planted on hills
or ridges. Because of the shallow root system, deep cultivation should
be avoided, but mulching is very beneficial. Young seedlings are cut
back to a height of about 1 m to encourage branching, and each year the
plants are pruned at the beginning of the crop cycle. This annual
pruning consists of cutting back and thinning out the branches that
have fruited to rejuvenate the bearing wood and to limit tree spread.
Time of pruning influences harvest time. Coppicing can be practised.
The brittle branches are prone to break when loaded with fruit; thus
sheltered locations should be chosen or windbreaks must be provided.
Plants respond well to nitrogen fertilizer, particularly after the 1st
fruit has set. In the tropics, using a generous amount of organic
matter and manure when making hills for planting minimizes the need for
additional fertilizer. Irrigation during the dry season is important to
sustain growth and to improve fruit size and yield. Yields per tree
average around 20 kg of fruit/year, and commercial yields are about
15-17 t/ha. Trees are short-lived; 12 years is the highest recorded
lifespan of an orchard.
Germplasm
Management
Orthodox storage behaviour; no loss in viability after 42 months of
hermetic storage at -20 deg. C with 5.5% mc. Reduction in viability
occurs after 8-10 months of storage at room temperature. There are
about 100,000 seeds/kg.
Pests and
Diseases
A major insect pest is the tree tomato worm, the larva of the pyraustid
moth Neoleucinodes
elegantalis. The larvae bore into the fruit, causing it to
spoil prematurely and bringing on fruit losses of 40-80%. Chemical and
possibly biological controls may be helpful in controlling or
eliminating this pest.
Aphids are one of the more common pests; they transmit cucumber mosaic
virus and potato virus ‘Y’. Cucumber mosaic virus causes stunting and
mottling of leaves. Potato virus ‘Y’ causes mottling of leaves and dark
spots on the fruit; yield is also reduced. Phytophthora blights (P. palmivora and P. infestans) also
affect plants, particularly during the rainy season. These blights can
be prevented by applying copper, daconil, or maneb sprays.
Principle fungal diseases include anthracnose, which hardens and
deforms the skin of the fruit, and powdery mildew (Oidium spp.), an
ashy-white fungus found on the upper and lower leaf surfaces of plants
in Colombia and New Zealand. C.
betacea may also be susceptible to verticillium wilt, a
soil-borne fungus that infects tomato, potato and eggplant.
Further
Reading
Anon. 1986. The useful plants of India. Publications &
Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi, India.
Bohs L. 1989. Ethnobotany of the Genus Cyphomandra
(Solanaceae). Economic Botany. 43(2): 143-163.
Coates-Palgrave K. 1988. Trees of southern Africa. C.S. Struik
Publishers Cape Town.
FAO. 1982. Fruit-bearing forest trees: technical notes.
FAO-Forestry-Paper. No. 34. 177 pp.
Hong TD, Linington S, Ellis RH. 1996. Seed storage behaviour: a
compendium. Handbooks for Genebanks: No. 4. IPGRI.
ICRAF. 1992. A selection of useful trees and shrubs for Kenya: Notes on
their identification, propagation and management for use by farming and
pastoral communities. ICRAF.
Jackson D. 1986. Temperate and subtropical fruit production.
Butterworth Horticultural Books.
Katende AB et al. 1995. Useful trees and shrubs for Uganda.
Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and
Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish
International Development Authority (SIDA).
Mbuya LP et al. 1994. Useful trees and shrubs for Tanzania:
Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and
Pastoral Communities. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Swedish
International Development Authority (SIDA).
Popenoe W. 1974. Manual of the tropical and subtropical fruits. The
Macmillann Company.
Rice RP, Rice LW, Tindall HD. 1987. Fruit and vegetable production in
warm climates. Macmillan Press, London.
Verheij EWM, Coronel RE (eds.). 1991. Plant Resources of South East
Asia No 2. Edible fruits and nuts. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.
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