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<big>''[[Lycopersicon esculentum]]'' Mill.</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Lycopersicon esculentum'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Gard. dict. ed. 8, ''Lycopersicon'' n. 2 (1768).
== Synonyms ==
*''Solanum lycopersicum'' L. (1753), *''Lycopersicon lycopersicum'' (L.) H.Karst. (1882).
== Vernacular names ==
*Tomato (En). *Tomate (Fr). *Tomate (Po). *Nyanya (Sw).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
== Description ==
*Annual herb, with erect to prostrate stems up to 2(–4) m long; taproot strong, to 0.5 m deep or more, with a dense system of lateral and adventitious roots; stem solid, coarsely hairy and glandular. *Leaves arranged spirally, imparipinnate, in outline 15–50 cm × 10–30 cm; stipules absent; petiole 3–6 cm long; leaflets varying in size, usually 7–9 larger ones per leaf, these ovate to oblong, 5–10 cm long, irregularly toothed and sometimes pinnatifid at base, and a variable number of smaller ones, leaflets covered with glandular hairs. *Inflorescence a cyme, normally 6–12-flowered, but sometimes compound and up to 100-flowered. *Flowers bisexual, regular, 1.5–2 cm in diameter, pendent, (5–)6(–7)-merous; calyx with short tube, green, lobes pointed, persistent and enlarging on fruit; corolla stellate, yellow, lobes becoming reflexed, caducous; stamens inserted on the corolla, anthers bright yellow, connivent to form a flask-shaped cone, surrounding the style, with an elongated sterile tip; ovary superior, 2–9-celled. *Fruit a berry, globular to oblate, 2–15 cm in diameter, smooth or furrowed, green and hairy when young, glabrous and shiny, usually red, sometimes pink, orange or yellow when ripe, many-seeded. *Seeds flattened ovoid, 3–5 mm × 2–4 mm, pale brown and hairy, embryo coiled in endosperm. *Seedling with epigeal germination.
== Other botanical information ==
Numerous cultivars of tomato exist. They can be variously classified, e.g. according to:
In tropical Africa, many farmers still use open-pollinated cultivars, both fresh market and processing types. ‘Floradade’, ‘Heinz 1370’, ‘Marglobe’, ‘Super Marmande’, ‘Moneymaker’, ‘Rio Fuego’, ‘Rio Grande’ and ‘Roma VF’ are some of the important tomato cultivars found in tropical Africa. AVRDC cultivars ‘Tanya’ and ‘Tengeru 97’ have become popular in Tanzania, and ‘Xina’ (from ISRA) in West Africa. It is expected that F<sub>1</sub> hybrids will increasingly replace open-pollinated cultivars. In West Africa F<sub>1</sub> ‘Mongal’ is gaining importance. It is heavy yielding and suitable for cultivation under hot and humid conditions. Many farmers in lowland tropical Africa and the Caribbean grow local cultivars of uncertain origin. They have somewhat sour and bitter-tasting fruits, small, round or flat, many-celled, and are especially suitable for grinding with condiments for sauces. They show considerable genetic variation including disease resistance, e.g. to bacterial wilt and fungal diseases. They give a better yield than most imported cultivars under the heavy environmental stress of the rainy season.
== Author(s) ==
* H.A.M. van der Vossen , Steenuil 18, 1606 CA Venhuizen, Netherlands * R. Nono-Womdim Km 5,6 Bd du Centenaire, B.P. 999, Dakar, Senegal
* CR.Nono-MWomdim, Km 5,6 Bd du Centenaire, B. MessiaenP. 999, Dakar, Senegal
* C.-M. Messiaen, Bat. B 3, Résidence La Guirlande, 75, rue de Fontcarrade, 34070 Montpellier, France
== Correct citation of this article ==