**5. Origin and distribution**

The tamarillo *C. betacea* (Cav.) is native to the Andean region of South America where most *Cyphomandra* species are found in cultivated state. It is also grown in New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. The area where *C. betacea* originated is not known, but some wild or naturalized populations have been reported in southern Bolivia and northeastern Argentina and may give an indication of its area of origin [30, 31]. It is found that *S. betaceum* is closely related to *S. unilobum*, *S. roseum*, and in particular to *S. maternum*, all of which are found in Bolivia in wild status [2, 3, 32, 33]. Little information is available on the domestication of the tree tomato, and at present it is unknown when and where this process took place. In New Zealand it is cultivated as a minor fruit crop. It was introduced to New Zealand as early as the late 1800s and there have been a number of further introductions [34]. It is cultivated and naturalized in Venezuela and grown in the highlands of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Haiti. Tamarillo was adopted on January 31, 1963 by the growers of New Zealand as the official common trade name for *Cyphomandra betacea*. The tree tomato was named as tamarillo in New Zealand in 1967 [35]. Tamarillo is a Maori word that indicates leadership, and "rillo" comes from the Spanish word for yellow, "amarillo" which was the original type of tamarillo to be grown and only in the 1920s was a new red variety developed [9]. It is possible to grow it successfully in areas with Mediterranean climates, where it has good prospects as a developing new fruit crop [36–38]. In India it is found growing in Sikkim, Darjeeling hills of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and in other north-eastern states. In Nepal during survey, it was found that it is grown in home gardens for vegetable purposes. It has been grown in Queensland and Australia in home gardens for many years and is a practical crop in the highlands of the Australian part of New Guinea. In USA it is grown in California and occasionally in Florida in pots and indoors. The plants fruit satisfactorily in greenhouses. In Malaysia *C. betacea* is cultivated in Cameron Highland (Peninsular Malaysia), and Kundasang (Sabah) and is locally known as "Pokok Tomato" or "Tamarillo" in Peninsular Malaysia and as "Buah Cinta," "Moginiwang," or "Tamarillo" in Sabah.

#### **6. Botany and taxonomy**

The plant is a small shrub or half-woody, evergreen or partially deciduous, attractive fast growing, brittle tree, shallow-rooted reaching 3 m to 5.5 m in height rarely as much as 7.5 m. The dichasial branching is responsible for the shrubby habit of the tree, although seedling grown plants do go through a juvenile phase and the initial branching pattern may not occur until after 30 nodes growth [39]. The plant is not tolerant to drought stress, and can be damaged by strong winds because of shallow root system. The leaves are perennial, simple, 10–35 cm long and 4–12 cm broad, evergreen, alternate, more or less heart-shaped at the base, ovate and pointed at the apex, thin, softly hairy, with prominent veins and have musky smell and slightly tinged purple when the leaves are young. Flowers with fragrance are borne in small, loose clusters near the branch tips, 1.25–2 cm wide, have 5 pale-pink or lavender, pointed lobes with 5 prominent yellow stamens and green-purple calyx. The long-stalked, smooth, egg shaped are borne singly or in clusters of 3–12, pointed at both ends and capped with the persistent conical calyx. In length, it can be anywhere from 5 to 10 cm long, and in breadth, it can be anywhere from 4 to 5 cm wide. Red, orange, yellow, or red-and-yellow skin colors are all possible, as well as a variety of shades in between (**Figure 1**). Species-dependent

#### **Figure 1.**

*Tamarillo origin and general aspects (A) Andean region from where tamarillo is native; (B) tamarillo tree with red fruits; (C) Tamarillo's flowers; (D) Tamarillo's fruits range of colors. (http://funnelandspade.blogspot. pt/2010/06/tamarillos-also-known-as-treetomatoes.html; http://www.fancyplants.de/en/exotichome/nwhspec/ tamarillo/).*

variations in flesh color include shades of orange-red, yellow, and cream-yellow. In the two longitudinal compartments of dark-purple and red fruits, as well as yellow and orange fruits, a soft, juicy, subacid to sweet pulp surrounds the seeds. The exterior layer of flesh is luscious and bland, whereas the skin is rough and unpleasant to eat. In spite of their diminutive size, the seeds are tough and bitter. A weak or under-ripe tomato with a subtle resinous aftertaste has a resinous scent and flavor. The plant bears in first or second year after planting, but peak production is reached after 4 years and has a life expectancy of only 5–12 years. In general, it forms a large spreading crown at a height of 1.5–2 m from base of a single upright woody trunk.
