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The tomato originated in South America and was first cultivated as food in Mexico, North America. Today, around 7500 cultivars of tomato exist. In its natural habitat, the tomato is a perennial plant, although it is often grown as an annual in temperate regions. The fruit is a fleshy berry rich in carotenoids, particularly lycopene. While the ripe berry is safe to eat, all other parts of the plant are mildly toxic. Tomatoes are also commonly affected by late blight. There is ongoing debate about whether the tomato should be classified as a fruit or a vegetable. ## Keywords angiosperms plants eudicots Solanales Solanaceae tomato
