Solanum muricatum

Solanum muricatum

The Peruvian pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Solanaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta division,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Solanales Order,
Solanaceae family,
Genus Solanum,
S. muricatum species.
The terms are synonyms:
– Solanum guatemalense Anon.;
– Solanum guatemalense Bitter;
– Solanum guatemalense Hort.;
– Solanum hebephorum Humb. & Bonpl.;
– Solanum hebephorum Humb. & Bonpl. ex Dunal;
– Solanum longifolium Sessé & Moc.;
– Solanum melaniferum Moric.;
– Solanum melaniferum Moric. ex Dunal;
– Solanum muricatum f. glaberrimum Correll;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. dissectum Dunal;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. glaberrimum Correll;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. papillosistylum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. parvifolium Kunth;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. popayanum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. praecedens Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. protogenum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum subsp. teleutogenum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum var. dissectum Dunal;
– Solanum muricatum var. muricatum;
– Solanum muricatum var. papillosistylum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum var. parvifolium Kunth;
– Solanum muricatum var. popayanum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum var. praecedens Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum var. protogenum Bitter;
– Solanum muricatum var. teleutogenum Bitter;
– Solanum pedunculatum Roem. & Schult.;
– Solanum pedunculatum Willd.;
– Solanum saccianum Carrière & André;
– Solanum saccianum Naudin;
– Solanum scabrum Lam.;
– Solanum variegatum Ruiz & Pav.;
– Solanum wallisii Carrière.

Etymology –
The term Solanum derives from the Latin sólor consolare, alleviate, soothe: due to the medicinal properties of some plants of this genus; according to other authors it derives from the sun (sol), since many of the plants of the genus are known to thrive under sun exposure.
The specific epithet muricatum comes from the Latin mūricātus, which means covered with spikes or bristly; term used to describe the distinctive spiny coating found on the surface of the plant’s fruits.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Solanum muricatum is an evergreen plant native to South America and cultivated for its sweet edible fruit. It is assumed to be native to the temperate Andean regions of Colombia, Peru and Chile, although it is not known in the wild and the details of its domestication are unknown.
Its natural habitat is not known as the plant is not found in the wild.

Description –
Solanum muricatum is a perennial plant that grows like a liana or a shrub, reaching a height of about 1-2 meters.
It has a woody and branched stem, with oval or heart-shaped leaves of an intense green color. The leaves may be slightly hairy on the undersurface.
The flowers are white or light purple, collected in clusters.
The fruits are the best known and most appreciated part of the plant. They are oval or elongated in shape, with thin, smooth light yellow skin. The size of the fruit usually varies between 10 and 15 centimeters in length.
Inside the fruit is the juicy and sweet pulp, which tastes like a combination of melon and cucumber. The pulp can be light green or white, depending on the variety.

Cultivation –
Solanum muricatum is a short-lived evergreen subshrub that has been cultivated for its edible fruit in South America for hundreds of years, since before the arrival of Europeans. Its cultivation has spread to other areas of the tropics and subtropics.
It is a plant that grows at higher altitudes in the humid tropics, capable of being grown at low altitudes in the subtropics; it grows at altitudes of up to 4,000 meters.
It is a plant that grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are between 15 and 25°C, but can tolerate 10-30°C.
In a dormant state it can survive temperatures down to about -3°C, but the young shoots can be severely damaged at 0°C.
It prefers an average annual rainfall between 800 and 1,400 mm, but tolerates between 500 and 2,000 mm.
From a pedological point of view, it prefers more well drained soils in a sunny position; however if the soil is too fertile fruit production will suffer due to excess vegetative growth. It also prefers a pH in the range of 6.5 – 7, tolerating 6 – 7.5. The plant requires a pH above 6 to avoid ailments such as manganese toxicity or iron deficiency.
Ripe fruit can be harvested approximately 5 months after planting and plants can continue to grow for up to two years.
As far as yields are concerned, 40 – 60 tons per hectare have been reached.
High temperatures, especially above 30 °C, at the time of flowering can cause the flowers to abort.
Furthermore, the plants do not appear to have a sensitivity to day length.
Plants can bear parthenocarpic fruit (without fertilization or seeds being formed) but self-fertilization or insect fertilization greatly encourages fruiting.
Seeds are rarely formed in cultivated fruits.
Propagation can occur by seed even if it is rarely formed in cultivated plants. If seed is obtained, it can be sown in a seedbed or in containers. The young seedlings are then transplanted when they have reached about 10 cm.
The propagation can easily take place by asexual way by means of cuttings of semi-mature wood up to 15 cm long, planted in the nursery during the rainy season.

Customs and Traditions –
Solanum muricatum is a plant native to the Andes area. The appellation in Aymara and Quechua languages is respectively “kachuma” and “xachum”.
The fruit is common in the markets of Colombia, Kenya, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, but less often abroad because it is quite sensitive to handling and does not move well.
Outside the Andean region, it has been grown in various countries of Central America, Morocco, Spain, Israel and in the highlands of Kenya. In the United States several hundred acres of fruit are grown on a small scale in Hawaii and California.
Attempts to produce commercial cultivars and to export the fruit have been made in New Zealand, Turkey, Mauritius and Chile. In the United States the fruit is known to have been grown in San Diego before 1889 and Santa Barbara in 1897. Most profitable cultivars since commercially they were introduced from New Zealand and elsewhere in the late 20th century, leading to its introduction into the markets of Japan, Europe and North America.
The fruits of this plant are not often found archaeologically as they are soft and pulpy and not easy to preserve, while their hard seeds are small and easily lost among debris. However they were already described by early Spanish chroniclers as being grown on the coast; the Moche Valley in Peru was particularly famous for them. They were a popular decorative motif in Moche art.
The fruits are known and appreciated for their fresh and refreshing taste, and are often eaten raw as fruit or used in salads, juices and desserts.
They are also an important source of vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber. Fruits contain an average of 35 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, 7% carbohydrates and 92% water.
The peel of some varieties has an unpleasant taste.
No medicinal uses are known.
Among other uses, an extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner.

Method of Preparation –
Of the Solanum muricatum the fruits are consumed which should be harvested just before they are fully ripe; these will keep for several weeks at room temperature.
For fresh consumption, we recommend the ripe fruits, bright yellow in color and slightly soft to the touch.
The fruits can be eaten straight or sliced or diced and served as part of a fruit salad or summer salad.
They can be used as ingredients to prepare juices, smoothies or sorbets.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/115128734/original.jpeg

Attention: The pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; we therefore decline all responsibility for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.