THE PEPINO (SOLANUM-MURICATUM, SOLANACEAE) - A NEW CROP WITH A HISTORY

Pepino, Solanum muricatum, is art herbaceous subshrub that has long be en grown in its native Andean South America. Pepino is usually cultiva ted for its edible fruits, but also has other economic uses. In spite of being a prominent crop in prehispanic times in the Andes, interest in pepino was cast into oblivion from some decades after the Spanish a rrival to the present. Pepino etymology, prehispanic distribution, and postcolumbian dispersal are presented with emphasis on outstanding hi storical aspects. Speculations on why the pepino has been neglected ar e also given. These include some features of pepino itself together wi th misconceptions. However, the pepino is today a species of increasin g economic interest, and has a considerable potential for future explo itation.