Solanum quitoense

{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Lulo.jpg |image_caption = Whole and transversely-cut fruit |genus = Solanum |species = quitoense |authority = Lam. |synonyms = *''Solanum angulatum'' Ruiz & Pav. *''Solanum macrocarpon'' Molina (non L.: homonym) *''Solanum macrocarpon'' Pav. ex Dunal in DC. (nomen nudum, homonym) *''Solanum nollanum'' Britton *''Solanum quitense'' Kunth *''Solanum quitoense'' f. ''septentrionale'' (R.E.Schult. & Cuatrec.) D'Arcy *''Solanum quitoense'' var. ''septentrionale'' R.E.Schult. & Cuatrec. |synonyms_ref = <ref name="solanaceae source"/><ref>[http://www.tropicos.org/name/29600308 Tropicos]</ref> }}

'''''Solanum quitoense''''', known as '''naranjilla'''<ref>{{PLANTS|id=SOQU|taxon=Solanum quitoense|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="morton">{{cite web |vauthors=Morton, Julia F |title=Naranjilla, ''Solanum quitoense'' Lam.; In: Fruits of Warm Climates |url=https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/naranjilla_ars.html |publisher=NewCROP, Center for New Crops & Plant Products, Purdue University|access-date=29 November 2025|pages=425-8 |date=1987}}</ref> ({{IPA|es|naɾaŋˈxiʝa}}, "little orange") in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama and as '''lulo''' ({{IPA|[ˈlulo]}}, from Quechua) in Colombia, is a tropical perennial plant from northwestern South America.<ref name=morton/> The specific name for this species of nightshade means "from Quito."<ref name=morton/><ref>Lamarck, Jean Baptiste Antoine Pierre de Monnet de. Tableau Encyclopédique et Methodique ... Botanique 2: 16. 1794.</ref>

The lulo plant stands {{cvt|2.5|m}} high, and has large elongated heart- or oval-shaped leaves up to {{cvt|60|cm}} in length covered in short purple hairs.<ref name=morton/> Naranjilla plants must be protected from strong winds and direct sunlight, growing best in partial shade.<ref name=morton/>

The fruit has a citrus flavor, sometimes described as a combination of pineapple and lime.<ref name=morton/> The juice of the naranjilla is green and is used as a juice<ref name=morton/> or for a drink called lulada.

==Classification== Within the genus ''Solanum'', ''S. quitoense'' is a part of the subgenus ''Leptostemonum''. Within this clade, ''S. quitoense'' belongs to the section ''Lasiocarpa''. Other species within ''Lasiocarpa'' include ''S. candidum'', ''S. hyporhodium'', ''S. lasiocarpum'', ''S. felinum'', ''S. psudolulo'', ''S. repandum'' and ''S. vestissimum''.<ref name="solanaceae source">{{aut|Solanaceae Source}} (2005): [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/solanaceaesource/taxonomy/description-detail.jsp?taxa=4905 ''Solanum quitoense'']. Version of December 2005. Retrieved 2008-SEP-25.</ref>

''Solanum quitoense'' resembles and can be confused with certain other species of ''Solanum'' (some closely related to ''S. quitoense'' and others less so), including ''S. hirtum'', ''S. myiacanthum'', ''S. pectinatum'', ''S. sessiliflorum'' and ''S. verrogeneum''. Furthermore, ''S. quitoense'' is somewhat variable in appearance, making identification challenging: at least three varietals (with spines, without spines, and a third variety known as ''baquicha,'' which features red-ripening fruits and smooth leaves) are known to occur. One characteristic that is unique to ''S. quitoense'' is the ring of green flesh within the ripe fruit.<ref name="solanaceae source"/> The only related fruit to have green flesh is a cultivated variant of ''S. lasiocarpum''.

The new growth of ''Solanum quitoense'' is densely covered in protective trichomes, which vary in color from purple to white.<ref name=morton/>

<gallery> Image:solanum quitoense flower 5.jpg|Flower File:Naranjilla new leaf.jpg|New leaf Image:stalk 2.jpg|Bud Image:stalk 3.jpg|Bud and young leaf </gallery>

==Cultivation== thumb|200px|Unripe fruit The naranjilla is not well-suited to large-scale cultivation.<ref name="solanaceae source"/> Its fruit, like tomatoes, is easily damaged when ripe, so is usually harvested unripe.<ref name="alanrevista"/> The fruits are found at markets, and locals commonly prepare beverages by adding sugar and water to the freshly squeezed fruits.<ref name="alanrevista">Óscar Acosta, Ana M. Pérez, Fabrice Vaillant (2009) [http://www.alanrevista.org/ediciones/2009-1/chemical_characterization_antioxidant_volatile_constituents_naranjilla_solanum_quitoense_costa_rica.asp Chemical characterization, antioxidant properties, and volatile constituents of naranjilla (''Solanum quitoense'' Lam.) cultivated in Costa Rica] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223065429/http://www.alanrevista.org/ediciones/2009-1/chemical_characterization_antioxidant_volatile_constituents_naranjilla_solanum_quitoense_costa_rica.asp |date=2009-12-23 }}. ''Archivos Latinoamericana de Nutrición'' 59(1): 88-94</ref>

===Pests and diseases=== ''Solanum quitoense'' has limited potential in large-scale agriculture due to the plant's extreme vulnerability to pests and diseases when grown as a crop. One common type of infection is caused by the root-knot nematode.<ref name=morton/> The ripe fruit is also delicate and frequently attacked by fungus, especially when mechanically damaged, so it is often picked unripe to avoid rotting.<ref name="alanrevista"/> ''S. quitoense''-specific vascular wilt is caused by a fungus and leads to flaccid fruits and defoliation.<ref name="Avila2019">{{cite journal |last1=Ávila |first1=Ana Cristina |last2=Ochoa |first2=José |last3=Proaño |first3=Karina |last4=Martínez |first4=M. Carmen |title=Jasmonic acid and nitric oxide protects naranjilla (Solanum quitoense) against infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. quitoense by eliciting plant defense responses |journal=Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology |date=April 2019 |volume=106 |pages=129–136 |doi=10.1016/j.pmpp.2019.01.002|bibcode=2019PMPP..106..129A |s2cid=92842572 }}</ref>

Hybrids are a solution to the nematode pest problem.<ref name=morton/> ''S. quitoense'' has been hybridized with other Solanum species, most commonly with ''S. sessiliflorum'', a plant with similar phenotypic traits. The leaves, flowers and fruits of ''S. sessiliflorum'' are similar in form to ''S. quitoense'', but the fruits of the former are larger and yellow; the resulting hybrids have fruits with yellowish fruit pulp.<ref name="solanaceae source"/>

==Nutrition and use== Lulo fruit pulp is 87% water, 1% protein, 6% carbohydrates, has negligible fat, and contains minerals, vitamin C, and carotenoids.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Obregón AJ, Lopez MD, Ángeles D|year=2023|title=Nutritional and bioactive properties of ''Solanum quitoense'' Lam: native fruit from the South American Andes|journal=Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences|volume=13|issue=4|article-number=e10386|doi=10.55251/jmbfs.10386|doi-access=free}}</ref>{{better source|date=November 2025|reason=this is not a reliable publication for nutrient analysis}} Its composition varies by growing conditions (region, genotype, cultivation).<ref name="alanrevista"/>

Juice is the most common use of lulo fruit, which is also consumed fresh, in desserts, and in various native dishes.<ref name=morton/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikispecies}} *{{GRIN}}

quitoense Category:Tropical fruit Category:Edible Solanaceae Category:Crops originating from the Americas Category:Crops originating from Ecuador Category:Crops originating from Colombia Category:Crops originating from Peru