Solanum iopetalum

Description

Solanum iopetalum distribution map
Solanum iopetalum distribution map

Solanum iopetalum is a widespread species from central to southern Mexico.  Plants roughly one to two feet tall.  Flowers white to violet.  Berries conical.

The specific epithet, iopetalum, means “purple petalled,” referring to the generally low growing habit of this species.  It is formed from the Greek words “ios,” for “purple,” and “petalon,” for “petal.”  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num eye-oh-PET-uh-lum.

Resistances

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

Condition Type Level of Resistance Source
Alternaria solani (Early Blight) Fungus Not resistant Jansky 2008
Drought Abiotic Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)
Frost Abiotic Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)
Globodera pallida (Pale Cyst Nematode) Invertebrate Not resistant Castelli 2003
Globodera rostochiensis (Potato Cyst/Golden Nematode) Invertebrate Somewhat resistant Castelli 2003
Heat Abiotic Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)
Meloidogyne spp. (Root Knot Nematode) Invertebrate Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)
Pectobacterium carotovorum (Blackleg/Soft Rot) Bacteria Not resistant Chung 2011
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Resistant Gonzales 2002
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Not resistant Bachmann-Pfabe 2019
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Some resistance Karki 2020
Potato Virus X (PVX) Virus Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)
Potato Virus Y (PVY) Virus Somewhat resistant Cai 2011
Synchytrium endobioticum (Wart) Fungus Somewhat resistant Machida-Hirano 2015 (as S. brachycarpum)

Glykoalkaloid content

Sarquis (2000) measured the total glycoalkaloid content of tubers of an accession of this species at 76.2 mg / 100g, a level almost four times the safety limit.

Images

Solanum iopetalum plant
Solanum iopetalum plant
Solanum iopetalum stem
Solanum iopetalum stem
Solanum iopetalum flowers
Solanum iopetalum flowers
Solanum iopetalum plant
Solanum iopetalum plant
Flowers of the wild potato species Solanum iopetalum
Solanum iopetalum flowers
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum iopetalum
Solanum iopetalum flower
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum iopetalum
Solanum iopetalum flower
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum iopetalum
Solanum iopetalum tubers
Tubers of the wild potato species Solanum iopetalum
Solanum iopetalum tubers

Cultivation

I have found seeds of this species easy to germinate using the standard conditions for S. tuberosum.  The USDA potato genebank has observed that germination of some accessions of this species is inhibited by GA3 (Bamberg 1999).  Bamberg (2018) found that alternating temperatures decreased germination in this species.

Towill (1983) found that seeds of this species stored at 1 to 3 degrees C germinated at 100% after 19 years.

Accessions Evaluated

The following accessions were examined to prepare this profile.  I have evaluated 4/58 accessions currently available from the US potato genebank.

PI 251721

Poor germination, but strong seedling growth.

PI 498021

Intermediate and irregular germination and strong seedling growth.

PI 558427

Intermediate germination and strong seedling growth.

PI 607854

Poor, irregular germination and slow seedling growth.

Breeding

Crosses with S. tuberosum

Female Male Berry Set
Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source
S. iopetalum (as S. iopetalum and S. brachycarpum) S. tuberosum Moderate Moderate  Jackson (1999)
S. tuberosum S. iopetalum Low High Jackson (1999)
S. tuberosum S. iopetalum (as S. brachycarpum) None None Jackson (1999)

Crosses with other species

Watanabe (1991) found that 9.3% of varieties of this species produced 2n pollen and Jackson (1999) found 2-15%, which would be effectively dodecaploid and 8EBN.

Female Male Berry Set
Seed Set Ploidy Germ Source

References

Solanum iopetalum at Solanaceae Source

Solanum iopetalum at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum iopetalum at CIP