Solanum agrimoniifolium

Description

Solanum agrimoniifolium distribution map
Solanum agrimoniifolium distribution map

Solanum agrimoniifolium is native primarily to Guatemala, also reaching into southern Mexico and Honduras, where it is primarily a cloud forest species.  Plants ranging from 18 inches to 6 feet tall.  Flowers blue to purple.  Berries large and conical.  Tubers small or sometimes entirely absent according to Correll (1962), who also notes that plants collected from Guatemala are larger and less pubescent.  Tuber color ranges from white to purple.

The specific epithet, agrimoniifolium, refers to the similar appearance of the leaves to agrimony. It is formed from the Latin words “agrimonia,” for “agrimony,” and “folium,” for “leaf.”  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num ag-rih-moh-nee-ih-FOH-lee-um.  The spelling of the specific epithet for this species varies, with both agrimoniifolium and agrimonifolium in common use, something to keep in mind when performing searches.

Plants are found at elevations of 6,200 to 11,200 feet (1900 to 3400 m) (Correll 1962).

Anaylsis of AFLP markers could not find a clear species boundary between S. agrimoniifolium and S. oxycarpum (Jimenez 2008) and neither could phenetic analysis (Fajardo 2008), so it is possible that these species will be combined in the future.  It is also possible that the species are distinct but frequently interbreed.

Resistances

Vega (1995) found that this species is less frost tolerant than domesticated potato.

Condition Type Level of Resistance Source
Alternaria solani (Early Blight) Fungus Somewhat resistant Jansky 2008
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Not resistant Bachmann-Pfabe 2019
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Some resistance Karki 2020
Potato Virus Y (PVY) Virus Not resistant Cai 2011

Glykoalkaloid content

I have not found any information about glycoalkaloid content in this species, but tubers that I have tasted were mildly bitter.

Images

Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium plant
Solanum agrimoniifolium flower
Solanum agrimoniifolium flower
Solanum agrimoniifolium stem
Solanum agrimoniifolium stem
Solanum agrimoniifolium flower
Solanum agrimoniifolium flower
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum agrimoniifolium
Solanum agrimoniifolium berries
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum agrimoniifolium
Solanum agrimoniifolium berries
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum agrimoniifolium
Solanum agrimoniifolium tubers

Cultivation

I have found seeds of this species easy to germinate using the standard conditions for S. tuberosum.

Towill (1983) found that seeds of this species stored at 1 to 3 degrees C germinated at 100% after 15 years.

Breeding

Crosses with S. tuberosum

Female Male Berry Set
 Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source
S. agrimoniifolium S. tuberosum Minimal Minimal Jackson (1999)
S. tuberosum S. agrimoniifolium None None Jackson (1999)

Crosses with other species

Watanabe (1991) found that 13.7% of varieties of this species produced 2n pollen and Jackson (1999) found 10-13%, which would be effectively octoploid and 8EBN.

Female Male Berry Set
 Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source

References

Solanum agrimoniifolium at Solanaceae Source

Solanum agrimoniifolium at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum agrimoniifolium at CIP