Solanum lycopersicum is the scientific name of the Tomato. The tomato was transferred to the Solanum lycopersicum in the Solanum genus after previously being designated to the Lycopersicon genus. Lycopersicon esculentum is synonymous with Solanum lycopersicum. Solanum pimpinellifolium, the wild ancestor of the tomato, is indigenous to western South America. These untamed forms resembled peas in size. The Aztecs and other Mesoamerican peoples were the first people to have domesticated the fruit, they utilised it both raw and cooked.
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What is the Scientific Name of Tomato?
The scientific name of the tomato is Solanum lycopersicum. The English name tomato originated from the Spanish word tomate. The tomato is an edible berry that is produced by the Solanum lycopersicum plant, also referred to as the tomato plant. The species was first found in Mexico, Central America, and western South America. It’s possible that Mexico’s indigenous peoples were the ones who first domesticated it and used it as farmed food. Tomatoes are categorised as berries in biology, yet they are more often utilised as a vegetable element or side dish in cooking.
Family Name of Tomato
The tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family, often known as the nightshade family, and consists of approximately 85 genera and 2,300 species. A small number of the species are significant economically, and the majority are tropical or subtropical.
Common Name of Tomato
The common names of Tomato are:
- Tomate: In Spain, France
- Tomat: In Indonesia
- Faan ke’e: In China
- Tomati: In West Africa
- Jitomate: In Mexico
- Pomodoro: In Italy
- Tomato, Takkali, Tameta, Tamaatar: In India
Origin of Tomato
The original home of the tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, was in Central America, Mexico, and South America. It is believed that the first tomato to be domesticated was small and yellow, and that it happened in Mexico around 500 BC.
The tomato was first introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century by the Spaniards, and it was brought to North America in the eighteenth century. The tomato is now grown and consumed all over the world, having spread to nations like Peru, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Taxonomic Classification of Tomato
The scientific classification of Tomato is stated below:
|
Kingdom |
Plantae |
|---|---|
|
Division |
Tracheophytes |
|
Class |
Eudicots |
|
Subclass |
Asterids |
|
Order |
Solanales |
|
Family |
Solanaceae |
|
Genus |
Solanum |
|
Species |
Solanum lycopersicum , Lycopersicon esculentum |
Characteristics of Tomato
Tomatoes classified as fruit as well as vegetable has several distinct characteristics. Some of the characteristics are as follows:
- In addition to red, crimson, and yellow, tomatoes can also be green or purple in colour. They may have a pear, elongated, spherical, or oval shape.
- Tomatoes can reach heights of 3–10 feet and widths of 1-4 feet. Ten pounds or more of fruit can be produced by each plant.
- Because of their savoury flavour, tomatoes are regarded as a vegetable, even though the edible portion is actually a fruit.
- Lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes their red hue, also serves to shield them from the sun’s UV rays. In addition, tomatoes have potassium, other minerals, including vitamins B and E. They are rich in copper and the vitamins A, C, and E. Tomatoes may help prevent metabolic syndrome, safeguard heart health, and preserve cognitive function.
- The tomato plant’s green portions are all toxic.
Uses of Tomato
The Uses of Tomato are as follows:
- Protects the Heart: Tomatoes, being high in antioxidants, aid in the preservation of healthy blood vessels. The antioxidants lycopene and vitamin C facilitate the flow of blood and aid in the transportation of oxygen throughout the body.
- Controls Blood Pressure: The presence of antioxidants such as lycopene, vitamin C, and others helps to strengthen the cardiovascular system. However, because potassium is a mineral that aids in blood pressure regulation, it also plays a significant part.
- Skin Health: Consuming tomatoes on a regular basis helps to prevent and treat acne, rashes, and mild burns, as well as minimise enlarged pores.
- Prevents Vision Problems: Tomatoes are high in beta-carotenes, which are nutrients that support eye health and lower the risk of cataract development, in addition to being high in vitamins A and C.
- Anti-inflammatory Qualities: Because tomatoes contain anti-inflammatory compounds like bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which assist to reduce inflammation and soothe the pain of chronic conditions, regular tomato consumption can have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Bone Health: Tomatoes are an ally for bone and dental health, helping to protect them because they contain vitamin K and calcium. Additionally, vitamin K helps stave off osteoporosis.
- Aids in the Prevention of Certain Cancers: Because they include lycopene and vitamins A and C, tomatoes can lower the risk of colon, prostate, and stomach cancer.
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FAQs on Scientific Name of Tomato
1. Why did the Scientific name Tomato Change?
Over the years, tomatoes have gone by a number of distinct scientific names. such as Lycopersicon esculentum and Solanum lycopersicum. Because of changes in scientific understanding of tomato relationships with other plants, the names have been modified.
2. What is Botanical name of Tomato?
Solanum lycopersicum is the botanical/scientific name of Tomato.
3. What is the Family name of Tomato?
The tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family, which is often known as the nightshade family.
4. What is the Difference between Solanum lycopersicum and Lycopersicon esculentum?
The tomato was formerly known by the older scientific name Lycopersicon esculentum, but the current term is Solanum lycopersicum.
5. What is the Phylum of Tomato?
Solanum lycopersicum, the tomato, belongs to the phylum Spermatophyta.