Solanum

Solanum is a large genus of plants that includes many species producing commercially important fruits and vegetables, among them aubergines, potatoes, naranjilla, and pepino, as well as tomatoes and peppers. The genus is central to world food supply, yet many of its species also produce toxic glycoalkaloids in their green tissues, which is why food-safety controls track compounds like solanine through growing, storage, and processing. Breeders work to keep glycoalkaloid levels low in edible varieties while preserving yield and disease resistance, and the genus remains one of the most studied in both agricultural science and food toxicology.