Cherry tomato

Last updated

Cherry tomato
Tomates cerises Luc Viatour.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species:
Variety:
S. l. var. cerasiforme
Trinomial name
Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
(Dunal) D.M.Spooner, G.J.Anderson & R.K.Jansen [1]
Synonyms [ citation needed ]
  • Lycopersicon lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
  • Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme
Yellow cherry tomatoes Yellow cherry tomatoes.jpg
Yellow cherry tomatoes
Freshly picked cherry tomatoes in Auroville, India Cherry Tomato Harvest.jpg
Freshly picked cherry tomatoes in Auroville, India

The cherry tomato is a type of small round tomato believed to be an intermediate genetic admixture between wild currant-type tomatoes and domesticated garden tomatoes. [2] Cherry tomatoes range in size from a thumbtip up to the size of a golf ball, and can range from spherical to slightly oblong in shape. Although usually red, other colours such as orange, yellow, green, purple, and black also exist. [3] Those shaped like an oblong share characteristics with plum tomatoes and are known as grape tomatoes . The cherry tomato is regarded as a botanical variety of the cultivated berry, Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme. [4]

Contents

History

"The cherry tomato... is believed to be the direct ancestor of modern cultivated tomatoes and is the only wild tomato found outside South America." [5] The tomato is thought to have been first domesticated in the Puebla-Veracruz area of Mexico and to have reached this area from South America in the form of a weedy cherry tomato. [5]

The first direct reference to the cherry tomato appears in 1623, in a work called Pinax theatri botanici (English: Illustrated exposition of plants) by Swiss botanist Caspar Bauhin, which contains descriptions and classifications of approximately six thousand species. In a section on "Solanum" (nightshades), Bauhin wrote of a variety called Solanum racemosum cerasoru[m] forma, which translates to " Solanum [that is] full of clusters [racemosum], in the form (shape) of cherries". [6]

Cherry tomatoes have been popular in the United States since at least 1919. [7] Recipes using cherry tomatoes can be found in articles dating back to 1967. [8]

In the 1970s Israeli scientists developed wild variants of the cherry tomato into global brands popular today among them the tomaccio. [9] Nathan Goldenberg, approached Professor Nahum Kedar and Professor Haim Rabinowitch from the Faculty of Agriculture at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with the idea of developing an improved variety of cherry tomatoes. [10] [11] Even before the appeal, the two were working on developing varieties suitable for cultivation in the hot Israeli climate, including a regular tomato variety with a long shelf life, encouraged by the Israeli government, which promoted the endeavour. [10] According to Rabinowitch, the desire to develop a cherry tomato variety was mutual; Goldenberg provided funding and all the seeds available at the time for home cultivation. [10] The variety developed by Kedar and Rabinowitch was flavorful, had a long shelf life, and was convenient for commercial packaging (two rows arranged around the stem). Licenses to market the seeds were sold to several Israeli companies. [10] The variety gained popularity in the late 1980s, and sales peaked in 1992. [10] The development brought the Hebrew University more revenue than all their other commercial developments combined [11] In the following decades, many other varieties were developed, and the popularity of cherry tomatoes continued to rise. [11]

Cultivars

The Super Sweet 100 is a hybrid cultivar popular in the United States and resistant to both Fusarium and Verticillium wilt.

The Selke Biodynamic cherry tomato is named after Margrit Selke. [12]

The indeterminate hybrid sungold cherry tomato is known for its vigorous early-yielding plants and colorful orange fruits.

Nutrition

Cherry tomatoes, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 76 kJ (18 kcal)
5.2 g
Sugars 3.5 g
Dietary fiber 1.7 g
Fat
0 g
0.9 g
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins Quantity
%DV
Vitamin A equiv.
5%
42 μg
2%
250 μg
Thiamine (B1)
0%
0 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
0%
0 mg
Niacin (B3)
1%
0.17 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
0%
0 mg
Vitamin B6
1%
0.02 mg
Folate (B9)
4%
14 μg
Vitamin C
29%
26 mg
Vitamin E
1%
0.2 mg
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
1%
14 mg
Iron
4%
0.63 mg
Magnesium
3%
14 mg
Manganese
5%
0.12 mg
Phosphorus
3%
33 mg
Potassium
9%
260 mg
Sodium
0%
6 mg
Zinc
1%
0.16 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water92.2 g

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [13] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eggplant</span> Plant species, Solanum melongena

Eggplant, aubergine, brinjal, or baigan is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit.

<i>Solanum</i> Genus of flowering plants

Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food crops of high economic importance: the potato, the tomato and the eggplant. It is the largest genus in the nightshade family Solanaceae, comprising around 1,500 species. It also contains the so-called horse nettles, as well as numerous plants cultivated for their ornamental flowers and fruit.

<i>Solanum pseudocapsicum</i> Species of plant

Solanum pseudocapsicum is a nightshade species with mildly poisonous fruit. It is commonly known as the Jerusalem cherry, Madeira winter cherry, or, ambiguously, "winter cherry". These perennials can be grown decoratively as house plants, but in some areas of South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand it is regarded as a weed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl onion</span> Variety of onion

The pearl onion, also known as button onion, baby onion or silverskin onion in the UK, is a close relative of the leek, and may be distinguished from common onions by having only a single storage leaf, similar to cloves of garlic. In French they are known as oignon grelot. One English-speaking reference also mentions the term petit poireau antillais.

<i>Lycopersicon</i> Obsolete genus of flowering plants

Lycopersicon was a genus in the flowering plant family Solanaceae. It contained about 13 species in the tomato group of nightshades. First removed from the genus Solanum by Philip Miller in 1754, its removal leaves the latter genus paraphyletic, so modern botanists generally accept the names in Solanum. The name Lycopersicon is still used by gardeners, farmers, and seed companies. Collectively, the species in this group apart from the common cultivated plant are called wild tomatoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beefsteak tomato</span> Variety of tomato

A beef tomato or beefsteak tomato is a large tomato. Grown on the plant Solanum lycopersicum, it is one of the largest varieties of cultivated tomatoes, regularly at 20 cm in diameter with some weighing 450 g (1 lb) or more. Most are pink or red with numerous small seed compartments (locules) distributed throughout the fruit, sometimes displaying pronounced ribbing similar to ancient pre-Columbian tomato cultivars. While popular among home growers for beef sandwich toppings and other applications requiring a large tomato such as toppings on large steaks, beefsteaks are not grown commercially as often as other types, since they are not considered as suitable for mechanization as smaller slicing tomatoes. Non-commercially, however, they are the most popularly grown tomato in North America.

<i>Solanum muricatum</i> Species of plant

Solanum muricatum is a species of evergreen shrub native to South America and grown for its sweet edible fruit.

<i>Solanum pimpinellifolium</i> Ancestral Species of tomato

Solanum pimpinellifolium, commonly known as the currant tomato or pimp, is a wild species of tomato native to Ecuador and Peru but naturalized elsewhere, such as the Galápagos Islands. Its small fruits are edible, and it is commonly grown in gardens as an heirloom tomato, although it is considered to be wild rather than domesticated as is the commonly cultivated tomato species Solanum lycopersicum. Its genome was sequenced in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomato</span> Edible berry

The tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, 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 and was domesticated in western South America. It was introduced to the Old World by the Spanish in the Columbian exchange in the 16th century.

Margrit Selke (1900–2004) was a specialist in biodynamic agriculture who did research with Dr.Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. From the early 1960s, until her retirement at the age of 97, she was the maker of the Pfeiffer BD Compost Starter and Field Spray 1. Along with Peter Dukich, Harris Porter and Erika Sabarth, she was considered as one of the "Three Musketeers" of Bio-dynamic Composting. All the "Musketeers" were noted for their remarkable longevity. Only Harris Porter died in his 80s, while Peter Dukich reached 94, Erica Sabarth, 84 and Margrit Selke, 105.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crop wild relative</span> Wild plant closely related to a domesticated plant

A crop wild relative (CWR) is a wild plant closely related to a domesticated plant. It may be a wild ancestor of the domesticated (cultivated) plant or another closely related taxon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pear tomato</span> Common name for type of tomato

Pear tomato or teardrop tomato is the common name for any one in a group of indeterminate heirloom tomatoes. There are yellow, orange, and red varieties of this tomato, the yellow variety being most common. They are generally sweet, and are in the shape of a pear, but smaller. They are heirlooms and have 3 common other names, such as the "Red/Orange/Yellow Pear Tomato Plants."

Solanum repandum is a species of evergreen shrub native to various island groups across the Pacific Ocean, and occasionally grown for its edible fruit.

The Blaby Special is a variety of red-fruited tomato that was grown in the village of Blaby in Leicestershire, England, until just after World War II. It was the main tomato cultivar available in England during the war. The cultivar ceased to be cultivated when Shoults' Tomato Farm was closed after the war. The variety was brought back into cultivation in 2006 as a result of a campaign by Dr Russell Sharp of Lancaster University. It may have resulted from either a mutation or a cross pollination involving an older cultivar known as Anwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomato seed oil</span>

Tomato seed oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of tomatoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raf tomato</span> Variety of tomato

The Raf tomato is a tomato obtained from artificial selection practiced on traditional tomatoes are planted outdoors since 1961. It is originally from Spain. The Raf tomato Marmande is a variety which stands out for its flavor and texture, as well as its resistance to water with high salt content.

Siberian tomato is a type of the common tomato plant. It is referred to as "Siberian" because it can set fruit at 38 °F (3 °C), although it is not particularly frost hardy, despite its name.

Martine Dorais, is a researcher with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada specializing in plant physiology. She is recognized around the world for her research on organic greenhouse production.

Solanum pennellii is a species of wild tomato in the family Solanaceae. It is native to the Galápagos Islands, Peru, and northern Chile. It is being extensively studied for its drought resistance and other traits in an effort to improve the cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum.

References

  1. "Garden Tomato Synonyms (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme as Classified by NCBI Taxonomy) – Encyclopedia of Life". Eol.org. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  2. Nesbitt, TC; Tanksley, SD (2002). "Comparative sequencing in the genus Lycopersicon. Implications for the evolution of fruit size in the domestication of cultivated tomatoes". Genetics. 162 (1): 365–79. doi:10.1093/genetics/162.1.365. PMC   1462239 . PMID   12242247.
  3. "BBC – Food – Cherry tomatoes recipes". Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  4. "Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme, nomen.at". Nomen.at. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 Kiple, Kenneth F., ed. (2000). The Cambridge World History of Food. Vol. 1. Cambridge University Press. p. 352. ISBN   9780521402149. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  6. Wexler, Anna (2016). "Seeding Controversy: Did Israel Invent the Cherry Tomato?" (PDF). Gastronomica. 16 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1525/gfc.2016.16.2.1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  7. "The Saskatoon Phoenix – Google News Archive Search". Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  8. "The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search". News.google.com. Retrieved 24 October 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. Miller, Sara (12 February 2024). "Israeli Cherry Tomatoes That Dry Themselves In The Sun". NoCamels. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Wexler, Anna (2016). "Seeding Controversy: Did Israel Invent the Cherry Tomato?". Gastronomica. 16 (2): 1–11. doi:10.1525/gfc.2016.16.2.1. ISSN   1529-3262. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "Turner, Jonathan Chadwick, (10 Feb. 1951–14 Sept. 2016), QC 2003; a Recorder, 2000–06", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.4000278, archived from the original on 18 June 2024, retrieved 17 June 2024
  12. Smith, Patricia; Rotheraine, L.A. "Biodynamics Brings the Gift of Learning to the Garden". rotheraine.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014. An interview which originally appeared in "Applied Biodynamics", the newsletter of the Josephine Porter Institute, Issue No. 51, Winter 2005-2006.The earliest version archived 18 June 2006 from Rotheraine.com, without the 2012 photo{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  13. United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". FDA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US). ISBN   978-0-309-48834-1. PMID   30844154. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme at Wikimedia Commons