Solanum infundibuliforme

Description

Solanum infundibuliforme distribution map
Solanum infundibuliforme distribution map

Solanum infundibuliforme is a high altitude species, growing natively in dry regions with almost year-round frost exposure, similar to S. acaule.  Small plants, about 4 to 10 inches tall.  Fuzzy leaves and stems.  Stolons reach about two feet.  Tubers small, mostly round, mostly less than an inch in diameter, occasionally reaching about two inches in cultivation.  It is native to the three border region of southern Bolivia, northeast Chile, and northwest Argentina.

The specific epithet, infundibuliforme, means “funnel shaped,” referring to the flowers.  It is formed from the Latin words “infundibulum,” for “funnel,” and “forma,” for “shape.”  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num in-fun-dib-yoo-lih-FOR-mee.

Resistances

This species can survive frosts down to 26 degrees F (-3.5 C) (Li 1977).  Vega (1995) found that this species is more frost tolerant than domesticated potato.

Condition
Type
Level of Resistance
Source
Alternaria solani (Early Blight) Fungus Somewhat resistant Jansky 2008
Frost Abiotic Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015
Fusarium sambucinum (Fusarium Wilt) Fungus Not resistant Lynch 2003
Globodera pallida (Pale Cyst Nematode) Invertebrate Resistant resistant Castelli 2003
Globodera pallida (Pale Cyst Nematode) Invertebrate Resistant Bachmann-Pfabe 2019
Globodera rostochiensis (Potato Cyst/Golden Nematode) Invertebrate Somewhat resistant Castelli 2003
Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado Potato Beetle) Invertebrate Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015
Myzus persicae (Green Peach Aphid) Invertebrate Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015
Pectobacterium carotovorum (Blackleg/Soft Rot) Bacteria Not resistant Chung 2011
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Not resistant Bachmann-Pfabe 2019
Potato Leaf Roll Virus (PLRV) Virus Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015
Potato Virus Y (PVY) Virus Not resistant Cai 2011
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (White Mold) Fungus Not resistant Jansky 2006
Synchytrium endobioticum (Wart) Fungus Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015

Glykoalkaloid content

Little information is available about the glycoalkaloid composition of this species.  Petersen (1993) reported that the primary alkaloid is solanidine, which usually indicates that the glycoalkaloids are solanine and chaconine.

Tubers that I have sampled had good flavor but a slightly bitter aftertaste, so this species is probably not safe to eat.

Images

Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme plant
Solanum infundibuliforme flower
Solanum infundibuliforme flower
Solanum infundibuliforme flowers
Solanum infundibuliforme flowers
Solanum infundibuliforme berry
Solanum infundibuliforme berry
Solanum infundibuliforme berry
Solanum infundibuliforme berry
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum infundibuliforme
Solanum infundibuliforme berries
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum infundibuliforme
Solanum infundibuliforme tubers
Seedling of the wild potato species Solanum infundibuliforme showing the topiary trait
Solanum infundibuliforme seedling with topiary trait

Cultivation

The USDA potato genebank has observed that some accessions of this species are dependent upon GA3 for germination (Bamberg 1999).

Towill (1983) found that seeds of this species stored at 1 to 3 degrees C germinated at 86% after 12 years and 46% after 18 years.

Trapero-Mozos (2018) determined that this species will tolerate a temperature of 40 C after acclimation for a period of time at 25 C.

Breeding

A mutation was discovered in S. infundibuliforme, called topiary.  It is a single recessive gene, tp (Leue 1982), located on chromosome 3 (Wagenvoort 1988), that affects growth habit and tuberization.  According to Den Nijs (1980), the mutation removes apical dominance so that the plant becomes short and bushy.  At the same time, it causes early and extended tuber growth and much shorter stolons.  This can have the effect of overcoming short day photoperiod.

Crosses with S. tuberosum

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

Crosses with other species

Jackson (1999) found 5-13% 2n pollen for varieties of this species.

Female
Male
Berry Set
Seed Set
Germ
Ploidy
Source
S. boliviense S. infundibuliforme High High High Ochoa (1990)
S. brevicaule S. infundibuliforme High High High Ochoa (1990)
S. infundibuliforme S. anamatophilum Low Low Yes Ochoa (1990)
S. infundibuliforme S. berthaultii (as S. tarijense) Yes Yes Yes Ochoa (1990)
S. infundibuliforme S. boliviense High High High Ochoa (1990)
S. infundibuliforme S. brevicaule High High High Ochoa (1990)

References

Solanum infundibuliforme at Solanaceae Source

Solanum infundibuliforme at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum infundibuliforme at CIP