Solanum neovavilovii: A new wild potato species from Bolivia

Regions such as Mexico, where important sources of resistance to late blight of potato have been found, have also been widely explored for wild potatoes. In contrast, Bolivia has received little attention. Although more than 50 names have been published for wild species from Bolivia, a great majority of these only constitute synonyms. Nevertheless, our exploratory work shows that finding new species is still possible in the isolated and remote localities of this country as demonstrated by the present new species,Solarium neovavilovii (Sect. Petota), dedicated to the great Russian scientist Nicolai I. Vavilov. Solatium neovavilovii is a diploid species (2n = 2x = 24 chromosomes) and belongs to the Conicibaccata series. Its preferred habitat is in thickets of “Ceja de Selva,” an ecological formation which is humid, cold, and frequently foggy, typical of the eastern region of the Andes. Its type locality has an altitude of 3000 m. This species is closely related toSolanum limbaniense Ochoa from south east Perú.