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Solanum morelliforme
| Common Names | |
| Code | mrl |
| Synonyms | |
| Clade | 1 |
| Series | Morelliformia |
| Ploidy | Diploid (2x) |
| EBN | 1 |
| Tuberization Photoperiod | Short Day |
| Self-compatibility | No |
| Nuclear Genome | B |
| Cytoplasmic Genome | W |
| Citation | Bitter & Muench: Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12: 154. 1913. |
Description
Solanum morelliforme (morelliforme, meaning similar in form to S. nigrum, which was once known as black morel) is a contender for the most unusual wild potato, as it is an epiphyte, typically growing on or near oak and pine trees. This is a widespread species in central Mexico and extends south into Honduras. Plants grow from about 3 to 18 inches tall. The berries are very small – about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch in diameter and contain only 5 to 15 seeds, much less than most potato species.
A disjuct (geographically separated) population of S. morelliforme was discovered in Bolivia in 2010 (Simon 2011). This is very surprising considering that there is a 2500 mile gap between the North and South American populations. No other wild potato species has a natural distribution on both continents.
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 and was among the least tolerant of the wild potato species.
Resistances
| Condition | Level of Resistance | Source |
| Frost | Somewhat Resistant | Machida-Hirano 2015 |
| Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado Potato Beetle) | Somewhat Resistant | Machida-Hirano 2015 |
| Phytophthora infestans (Late Blight) | Somewhat Resistant | Machida-Hirano 2015 |
Glykoalkaloid content
No information is available about glycoalkaloid content, but it is typically low in diploid North American species. I tasted one small tuber and detected no bitterness.
Images
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Cultivation
Bamberg (2018) found that germination of at least some accessions of this species is inhibited by alternating temperatures. I reproduced that quite successfully, as we got zero germination from seeds sown under our standard 65 F day / 50 F night temperature alternation. I tried again at constant temperature and got a little germination, but still not as much as expected.
I have found plants quite difficult to keep alive outdoors.
Breeding
Crosses with S. tuberosum
| Female | Male | Berry Set | Seed Set | Germination | Ploidy | Source |
Crosses with other species
Watanabe (1991) found that 8.1% of varieties of this species produced 2n pollen, which would be effectively tetraploid and probably 2EBN.
| Female | Male | Berry Set | Seed Set | Germination | Ploidy | Source |
References
