Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306960
Title: Solanum clarum and S. morelliforme as novel model species for studies of epiphytism

Author
item Jansky, Shelley
item ROBLE, JACOB - University Of Wisconsin
item Spooner, David

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2016
Publication Date: 2/29/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62038
Citation: Jansky, S.H., Roble, J., Spooner, D.M. 2016. Solanum clarum and S. morelliforme as novel model species for studies of epiphytism. Frontiers in Plant Science. 7:231. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00231.

Interpretive Summary: Plant species that live in trees but do not parasitize them are called epiphytes. Common epiphytes include orchids, ferns and bromeliads. These species have unique adaptations that allow them to live in the low mineral environments of tree branches. The genetics and physiology of mineral acquisition in epiphytes is poorly understood. We propose the use of two wild epiphytic relatives of potato as model species for studies of mineral nutrition. Unlike other epiphytes, they have a short life cycle, are easy to propagate, and are amenable to genomics and genetics studies.

Technical Abstract: The natural history of epiphytic plant species has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the physiology and genetics of epiphytism. This is due to difficulties associated with growing epiphytic plants and the lack of tools for genomics studies and genetic manipulations. In this study, tubers were generated from 142 accessions of 47 wild potato Solanum species, including the epiphytic species S. morelliforme and its sister species S. clarum. Lyophilized samples were analyzed for 12 minerals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Mineral levels in tubers of S. morelliforme and S. clarum were among the highest for 10 out of the 12 elements evaluated. These two wild potato relatives are native to southern Mexico and Central America and live as epiphytes or in epiphytic-like conditions. We propose the use of S. morelliforme and S. clarum as model organisms for the study of mineral uptake efficiency. They have a short life cycle, can be propagated vegetatively via tubers or cuttings, and can be easily grown in controlled environments. In addition, genome sequence data are available for potato. Transgenic manipulations and somatic fusions will allow the movement of genes from these epiphytes to cultivated potato.