Answer

Score

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

y

-3

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y= 1, n=-1

y

1

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

-1

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

1

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

n

0

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

y

2

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

0

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

2

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

1

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

0

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

0

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

0

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

0

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

y

1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

1

1

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

y

1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

-1

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

5

Second screening

L

Notes

Source

1.01

(1)"The pepino, Solanum muricatum, originates from the Andean region and has been domesticated since pre-Hispanic times." . (2)The pepino (or pepino dulce: Solanum muricatum) is a domesticate of interest because of its close relationship to tomatoes and potatoes, because it is enjoying increasing exposure in the international market, and because it is a cultigen with no known wild ancestor. (3)Pepino, Solanum muricatum, is an herbaceous subshrub that has long been grown in its native Andean South America.

(1)Neglected Crops: 1492 from a Different Perspective. 1994. J.E. Hernándo Bermejo and J. León (eds.). Plant Production and Protection Series No. 26. FAO, Rome, Italy. p. 181–191 . (2)Gregory et al. 1996. The origin and relationships of the pepino, Solanum muricatum (Solanaceae): DNA restriction fragment evidence. Economic Botany 50(4): 369-380. (3)Prohens et al. 1996. The Pepino (Solanum muricatum, Solanaceae): A "New" crop with a history. Economic Botany 50(4): 355-368.

1.02

(1)Collected as common in building refuse, and as spontaneous plants in imported nursery soil.

(1)Webb et al. 1995. Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 1988-1993. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33: 151-182

1.03

No weedy races cited in any of the references to this species.

2.01

(1) Pepinos are native to South America. (2)Hardiness:USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F) (3)The pepino dulce is a fairly hardy plant that grows at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 10,000 ft. in its native regions. However it does best in a warm, relatively frost-free climate. The plant will survive a low temperature of 27 to 28° F if the freeze is not prolonged.

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI. (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67352/ (3)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

2.02

2.03

(1) The melon pear not very frost hardy. However, it can withstand negative temperatures down to about 28°F (-2°C). In colder climates, it can be grown in containers. (2)Hardiness:USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F) (3)The pepino dulce is a fairly hardy plant that grows at altitudes ranging from near sea level to 10,000 ft. in its native regions. However it does best in a warm, relatively frost-free climate. The plant will survive a low temperature of 27 to 28° F if the freeze is not prolonged.

(1)http://coolexotics.com/plant-81.html (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67352/ (3)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

2.04

(1)(1) Pepinos are native to South America.

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.

2.05

3.01

(1)Collected as common in building refuse, and as spontaneous plants in imported nursery soil.

(1)Webb et al. 1995. Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 1988-1993. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33: 151-182

3.02

No evidence.

http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

3.03

No evidence

http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

3.04

No evidence

http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

3.05

(1)Solanum linnaeanum, Solanum nigrum etc.

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/scientificnames/scinames.htm

4.01

(1) The plant is an unarmed, sprawling herb or subshrub

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.

4.02

Not allelopathic

http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

4.03

Not parasitic

http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

4.04

No information

4.05

No evidence that this species is poisonous, but some other species is this genera like S. nigrum, S. carolinense, and S. dulcamara are poisonous to animals. (1)Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.

(1)http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Solanum+muricatum

4.06

(1)The plant is affected by many of the diseases and pests that afflict tomatoes and other solanaceous plants, including bacterial spot, anthracnose, and blights caused by Alternaria spp. and Phytophthora spp. The various pests include spider mite, cut worm, hornworm, leaf miner, flea beetle, Colorado potato beetle and others. Fruit fly is a serious pest where they are a problem. Greenhouse grown plants are particularly prone to attack by spider mites, white flies and aphids

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html (2)Adler et al. 2002. The Andean fruit crop, pear melon (Solanum muricatum) is a common host for A1 and A2 strains of Phytophthora infestans in Ecuador. Plant Pathology 51(6): 802.

4.07

(1)Although no specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many if not all the members have poisonous leaves and sometimes also the unripe fruits.

(1)http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Solanum+muricatum

4.08

Unlikely, herb or subshrub.

4.09

(1)Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade (2)Location: The plant likes a sunny or semi-shaded, frost-free location, sheltered from strong winds.

(1)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67352/ (2)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

4.1

(1)Soil - The melon pear requires a well-drained, fertile and neutral to slightly acidic ground. (2)Soil: The pepino dulce does best in a fertile (but not too fertile), free draining, neutral soil ( pH of 6.5-7.5). It is not as tolerant of salinity as the tomato.

(1)http://coolexotics.com/plant-81.html (2)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

4.11

Not a climber

4.12

Not documented to form dense thickets.

5.01

Not an aquatic plant.

5.02

(1) The plant is an unarmed, sprawling herb or subshrub

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.

5.03

No evidence - Solanaceae not nitrogen fixers

5.04

(1)No tubers. The species belongs to section Basarthrum and is most closely related among the New Zealand wild species to the potato, S. tuberosum (section Petota) which differs in having tubers and smaller, globose fruits.

(1)Webb et al. 1995. Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 1988-1993. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33: 151-182

6.01

No mention of substantial reproductive failure in literature.

6.02

(1)In the areas of its origin there are small oblong types with many seeds, while others are pear or heart-shaped with few or many seeds. Still others are round, slightly larger than a baseball and completely seedless. The pepino dulce can be grown from seeds, but is usually propagated vegetatively from cuttings. (2)Propagation Methods: From semi-hardwood cuttings From seed; sow indoors before last frost

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67352/

6.03

No evidence of naturally occurring hybrids, although hybrids have been produced experimentally. (1)Results indicate that wild species can make a significant contribution to pepino breeding and can be easily integrated in local breeding programmes.

6.04

(1)Several cultivars and selections of the pepino were found to be self-compatible, but the rate of self-pollen tube growth in the style was found to be variable. (2)The re-interpretation of published data, together with our own experimental results confirm that Solanum muricatum is a predominantly self-pollinating species.

(1)Murray et al. 1992. Seed set and breeding system in the pepino: Solanum muricatum AIT. Solanaceae. Scientia Horticulturae 49(1-2): 83-92. (2)Ruiz and Nuez. 2000. High temperatures and parthenocarpic fruit set: Misunderstandings about the pepino breeding system. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 75(2): 161-166.

6.05

(1) Most Solanum species have no nectar, and pollinators (Hymenoptera and Diptera) visit the flowers to collect pollen.

(1)Buchman, S.L. 1986. Vibratile pollination in Solanum and Lycopersicon: A look at pollen chemistry. In Solanaceae: Biology and systematics, ed. W.G.D'Arcy, pp. 237-253. Columbia University Press, New York.

6.06

No evidence of vegetative reproduction in the wild, although this species can be propagated by cuttings. (1)The pepino dulce can be grown from seeds, but is usually propagated vegetatively from cuttings. (2)Propagation Methods: From semi-hardwood cuttings (3)The culture and rapid propagation of shoot tips of Solanum muricatum Ait were investigated.

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html (2)http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/67352/ (3)Zhai et al. 2004. Virus-free culture of shoot tips and rapid propagation of Solanum muricatum. Journal of Plant Resources and Environment 13(3): 41-43.

6.07

(1)A small bush or shrub much like the tomato. Usually fruits in 9-12 months, so a frost free climate is preferred for optimal survival.

(1)http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/pepino.htm

7.01

(1)Probably not as the propagules do not have any means of attachment.

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

7.02

(1) Fruit of Solanum muricatum W. Aiton, Pepino Dulce, may be encountered in the specialty section of many North American grocery stores.

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.

7.03

Not dispersed as a produce contaminant.

7.04

(1) The fruit is "often more than 4" long and 3" in diameter".

(1)Staples, G.W. and D.R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants Cultivated In The Hawaiian Islands And Other Tropical Places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.

7.05

Not water dispersed.

7.06

(1) Fruits of Solanum muricatum are large, fleshy berries with sweet pulp.

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

7.07

Fruit lack adaptations for external dispersal. (1)Fruit generally 7-10 cm long, broadly ellipsoid to almost obovoid, cream or cream with purple streaks

(1)Webb et al. 1995. Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: additional records 1988-1993. New Zealand Journal of Botany 33: 151-182

7.08

Fruits with adaptations for bird and other vertebrate dispersal. (1) Other species of Solanum are vertebrate dispersed.

(1)Tamboia et al. 1996. An evaluation of vertebrate seed dispersal syndromes in four species of black nightshade (Solanum sect. Solanum). Oecologia 107(4) : 522-532

8.01

(1) Unlikely. In the areas of its origin there are small oblong types with many seeds, while others are pear or heart-shaped with few or many seeds. Still others are round, slightly larger than a baseball and completely seedless.

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

8.02

No information on seed bank.

8.03

Don't know

8.04

Don't know

8.05

Don't know

Answer

Notes

Source

Herb or low stature shrubby life form

Yes

(1)Growth Habit: Pepino dulce is a small, unarmed, herbaceous plant or bush with a woody base and fibrous roots. Growth is erect or ascending to about 3 feet high and several feet across. It is similar in these respects to a small tomato vine, and like the tomato may need staking or other support.

(1)http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pepino.html

Reported as a weed of cultivated lands?

No

(1)No evidence in the Global Compendium of Weeds

(1)http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/solanum_muricatum/

Assessment:

Accept