Solanum hougasii

Description

Solanum hougasii distribution map
Solanum hougasii distribution map

Solanum hougasii is a species of limited distribution in southwest Mexico.  Plants reach a little over two feet tall.  White flowers.  Round berries.

The specific epithet, hougasii, honors American botanist Robert W. Hougas.  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num HOO-gahs-ee-eye.

Subramanian (2017) found that at least some accessions of this species have unusually low calcium and potassium content and unusually high dry matter.

Resistances

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

Condition Type Level of Resistance Source
Globodera pallida (Pale Cyst Nematode) Invertebrate Not resistant Castelli 2003
Globodera rostochiensis (Potato Cyst/Golden Nematode) Invertebrate Not resistant Castelli 2003
Meloidogyne chitwoodi (Columbia Root Knot Nematode) Invertebrate Resistant Brown 1991
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Resistant Gonzales 2002
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Resistant Bachmann-Pfabe 2019

Glykoalkaloid content

Tubers that I have sampled were pleasant tasting, but had a mild bitter aftertaste, probably indicating that this species is not safe to eat.

Images

Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower
Solanum hougasii flower back side
Solanum hougasii flower back side
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii stem
Solanum hougasii stem
Solanum hougasii stem
Solanum hougasii stem
Solanum hougasii plant
Solanum hougasii plant
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum hougasii
Solanum hougasii berries
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum hougasii
Solanum hougasii 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 84 to 100% after 14 years.

Breeding

Crosses with S. tuberosum

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

Crosses with other species

Watanabe (1991) found that 37.5% of varieties of this species produced 2n pollen and Jackson (1999) found 3-13%.

Female Male Berry Set
Seed Set Germ Ploidy Source

References

Solanum hougasii at Solanaceae Source

Solanum hougasii at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum hougasii at CIP