Book Description

Traditional societies have always exploited edible wild plants to provide an adequate level of nutrition. These plant resources play a significant role in nutrition, food security and income generation. Agricultural development and cultivation in developing countries are primarily based on subsistence crops and edible wild plant species, and only secondary on the cultivation or utilisation of a wide diversity of food crops. The Solanaceae, to which the genus Solanum L belongs, is a cosmopolitan family containing many essential vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals. Many species of genus Solanum are world-wide weeds of arable land, gardens, contained in soils rich in nitrogen, moderately light with warm situations, which occur from sea to mountain levels. They are widely used as leafy herbs, vegetables, as a source of fruit, and for various medicinal purposes. Therefore, human consumption of their leaves and fruits as food is widespread. Among them is Solanum torvum Swartz, which could be an important staple crop that is being used variously for research purposes world-wide. It is a potential staple crop due to its pharmacological and ethnobotanical importance. This book attempts to uncap all the available information on Solanum torvum Swartz. Accurately, by providing an identification key, descriptions of the taxa and most widely reported dietary, ethnobotanical and pharmacological uses. This book intends to contribute to improving the potential value of Solanum torvum Swartz through increased use of the available genetic diversity. Monographs in the series will form as valuable reference sources for all those scientists involved in conservation, research, improvement and promotion of this plant species.