Estudio de los grupos taxonómicos de las papas silvestres

Abstract

The genus Solanum, with more than 2000 species, is subdivided into the sub-genera Pachystemonum and Leptostemonum. In the former there are five sections, one of which, Tuberarium, includes the tuber forming species of potatoes Basarthrum and Hyperba-sarthrum dare its two sub-sections and the potato properly belongs to the latter.

The taxonomic groups within the subsection Hyberbasarthrum now total 17 se-ries which have been proposed, at intervals since 1924 by various authors which are named. The names of the series and their distinguishing features are given. The author feels that these groups have often been made on th basis of poorly studied and incom-plete specimens Several comments on the differential characteristics of the series are made. The taxonomic position of weed potatoes and of species whose position is doubi-ful, are considered

An account of the bolivian wild species found since 1900 includes mention of the collectors names, places visited and a belief that although the number of bolivian species represent 7 of the 17 series accounting for almost a third of the material reported from the Americas, there remains much to be explored and discovered.

The importante of wild species in the improvement of the cultivated potato is introduced with a chronological summary of the main efforts made in various countries by different scientists which are named. For each of the series represented in Bolivia, information is presented concerning characteristics of economic value or other interesting features and which are possesed by species in those series

Among these are resistance to frost, virus X and Y, drought, late blight, wart, common scab, leaf roll as well as resistance, to flea beetle and habit of a long rest period

Findings of many leading scientists and important publications are mentioned throughout the text, including bitherto unpublished facts of taxonomic and genetic va-tue from the Bolivian work.