Solanum longiconicum

Description

Solanum longiconicum distribution Map note

Solanum longiconicum is a cloud forest species, primarily concentrated in Costa Rica, extending into Panama.  Along with S. woodsonii, this is the most southern of the North American wild potatoes.  Plants ranging from about 6 inches to 6 feet tall.  Flowers, white, blue, purple, or white with colored stripes.  Berries long and severely pointed.  Tubers small and whitish.

The specific epithet, longiconicum, means “long cone,” referring to the shape of the berries.  It is formed from the Latin words “longus,” for “long,” and “conicum,” for “cone.”  While there is no completely standardized pronunciation for scientific names, the most common way to pronounce this species is probably so-LAY-num lahn-jee-KON-ih-kum.

Seeds of S. longiconicum have a seed spot, which distinguishes this species from the similar S. agrimoniifolium, S. oxycarpum, and S. woodsonii, all of which lack a seed spot (Spooner 2001).  On the other hand, analysis of AFLP markers of S. longiconicum and S. woodsonii indicated that these two species are probably synonymous (Jimenez 2008).

Resistances

Condition Type Level of Resistance Source
Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) Fungus Some resistance Perez 2019
Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV)
Virus Not resistant Natti 1953
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (White Mold) Fungus Not resistant Jansky 2006

Glykoalkaloid content

I have found no accounts of glycoalkaloid content for this species.  Tubers vary from moderate bitterness to apparent palatability and I suspect that it would be possible to make edible selections of this species.

Images

Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum plant
Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum plant
Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum plant
Aerial plant of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum plant
Seedling of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum seedling
Seedling of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum seedling
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum flower
Flowers of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum flowers
Flower of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum flower
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum berries
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum berries
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum berries
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum berries
Berries of the wild potato species Solanum longiconicum
Solanum longiconicum berries

Cultivation

I have found this species slow and difficult to germinate using the standard conditions for S. tuberosum.

Accessions Evaluated

The following accessions were examined to prepare this profile.  I have evaluated 5/8 accessions currently available from the US potato genebank.

PI 208780

No germination.

PI 604088

An in-vitro accession from Cartago, Costa Rica.  This was the first success that I had growing this species.

PI 604092

High germination and strong seedling growth.

PI 604093

Very low germination and weak seedling growth.

PI 604095

Very low germination and weak seedling growth.

Breeding

EBN has not been established for this species, but it will almost certainly be either 2EBN or 4EBN.  There are AP polyploids with both EBN levels.

Crosses with S. tuberosum

Female Male Berry Set Seed Set Germination Ploidy Source

Crosses with other species

Female Male Berry Set Seed Set Germination Ploidy Source

References

Solanum longiconicum at Solanaceae Source

Solanum longiconicum at GRIN Taxonomy

Solanum longiconicum at CIP