Solanum hypacrarthrum

Description

Solanum hypacrarthrum distribution map
Solanum hypacrarthrum distribution map

Solanum hypacrarthrum is a Peruvian species.  Plants reach a little more than a foot tall.  White tubers.  Flowers are white, occasionally white with light blue, rarely entirely blue.  Berries round.  Native habitat is hills and brushy forests from 5,900 to 11,200 feet (1800 to 3400 m) (Correll 1962).

The specific epithet, hypacrarthrum, refers to the position of the articulation at the end of the pedicel.  It is formed from the Greek words “hypo,” for “under,” and “acros,” for “top end.”  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num hy-puh-KRAR-thrum.

All available monographs describe this species as having white corollas, but the only available accession in the USA, PI 473477, produces both white and light blue flowers.

Resistances

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

Condition Type Level of Resistance Source
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Not resistant Gonzales 2002
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Some resistance Karki 2020

Glykoalkaloid content

No information.

Images

Foliage of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum plant
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum flower
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum flower
Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum plant
Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum plant
Flowers of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum flowers
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum flower
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum flower
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum hypacrarthrum
Solanum hypacrarthrum tubers

Cultivation

I have found seeds of this species slow and difficult to germinate using the standard conditions for S. tuberosum.  I have noticed that this species produces few and mostly small and poorly developed berries here.  I’m not sure why.

Accessions Evaluated

The following accessions were examined to prepare this profile.  I have evaluated 1/1 accessions currently available from the US potato genebank.

PI 473477

The first time I grew this accession, I got poor germination and slow seedling growth.  The mature plants did not look like I expected for this species.

I am now growing it a second time and got good germination and rapid seedling growth.  It is possible I made a mistake the first time.

Breeding

Crosses with S. tuberosum

Female Male Berry Set
 Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source

Crosses with other species

Female Male Berry Set
 Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source

References

Solanum hypacrarthrum at Solanaceae Source

Solanum hypacrarthrum at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum hypacrarthrum at CIP