Submitted to: Botanical Society of America Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2004
Publication Date: 7/15/2004
Citation: Spooner, D.M., Hetterscheid, W. 2004. Cultivar-group classification of modern cultivated potato. 2004 Botanical Society of America. 82:91 Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: There is an unresolved controversy about the classification of cultivated potato as Linnean 'species' as treated under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) or as 'cultivar groups' treated under the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). Cultivar-groups are user-driven and consensus classifications based on ease of reference, in contrast to species, that represent natural entities as determined by expert taxonomic authorities. Cultivar-groups often are used for crop plants where natural species boundaries are difficult or impossible to determine. Huamán and Spooner (2002. Amer. J. Bot. 89:947-965) followed an ICNCP classification to place all landrace populations of cultivated potatoes under the single name (denomination class) of Solanum tuberosum, with eight cultivar-groups: Ajanhuiri Group, Andigenum Group, Chaucha Group, Chilotanum Group (S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum from Chile), Curtilobum Group, Juzepczukii Group, Phureja Group, and Stenotomum Group. We here propose cultivar groups for modern cultivated potato, based on practical user criteria, as determined from a survey of informal classifications used by industry and breeders. These classifications principally use tuber skin color, flesh color, and tuber shape. To examine the applicability of an ICNCP classification of modern potato we analyzed these characters, disease criteria, eye depth, and maturity, from Hamester and Hils (2003. World catalogue of potato varieties. Agrimedia GmbH, Bergen/Dumme, Germany). We will use this venue to begin to seek the consensus from potato breeders and industry representatives to for a cultivar-group classification of modern potato cultivars.