Tropical soda apple is a common weed in South America, India, West Indies,
Honduras, and Mexico. It is native to Argentina and central Brazil
and has been introduced in Africa, much of India and Nepal, and can
be expected to occur in other subtropical areas. How TSA was introduced
into Florida is not known. In Florida, it is an obligate weed occurring
mainly in association with human activities.
In Florida, TSA has been observed as a common weed in pastures, ditch
banks, citrus groves, vegetable fields, sugar cane fields, and rangeland
(Oak Hammocks, Cypress heads). Tropical soda apple is less productive,
or actually dies, in the summer when water accumulates in fields.
Solanum spp. were first reported by ranchers in south Florida in
the early 1960's. However, these initial reports indicated the fruit
was a cherry red color, not yellow. Apparently ranchers were observing
Solanum capsicoides, not TSA. Since the early 1990's in south Florida,
TSA has been the most prevalent of the two species. Reasons for
the rapid increase in TSA are not well understood, though seed is
spread by animals, contaminated hay and grass seed (i.e. bahiagrass),
sod, and wildlife.
