Solanum hougasii
| Common Names | |
| Code | hou |
| Synonyms | S. spectabile, S. verrucosum var. spectabile |
| Clade | Mixed |
| Series | Demissa |
| Ploidy | Hexaploid (6x) |
| EBN | 4 |
| Tuberization Photoperiod | Short Day |
| Self-compatibility | Yes |
| Nuclear Genome | ABP |
| Cytoplasmic Genome | D |
| Citation | Correll: Madroño 14: 236. 1958. |
Description
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.
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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