Question:

Which of the following is NOT a frost tolerant species of potato ?

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Wild potato species like S. acaule, S. vernei, and S. commersonii are known for good to excellent frost tolerance. They are sources of genes for breeding.
The cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum, is generally frost-sensitive.
  • Solanum acaule
  • Solanum vernei
  • Solanum commersonii
  • Solanum tuberosum
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The Correct Option is D

Approach Solution - 1

Potato species vary significantly in their tolerance to frost. Wild potato species often possess greater stress tolerance, including frost tolerance, compared to the cultivated potato.
(1) Solanum acaule: This is a wild potato species native to high altitudes in the Andes. It is well-known for its exceptional frost tolerance, surviving temperatures well below freezing. It's a valuable genetic resource for breeding frost-tolerant potatoes.
(2) Solanum vernei: Another wild potato species from South America, also known to possess good levels of frost tolerance and resistance to various diseases.
(3) Solanum commersonii: This wild potato species is also recognized for its notable frost hardiness and adaptation to cooler climates.
(4) Solanum tuberosum: This refers to the common cultivated potato. While there is some variation among cultivars, S. tuberosum is generally considered frost-sensitive. Its foliage is damaged by even light frosts, and tubers can be damaged if the soil freezes. It is NOT a frost-tolerant species compared to many of its wild relatives. Therefore, Solanum tuberosum is the species among the options that is not frost tolerant. Solanum tuberosum
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Approach Solution -2

Wild-versus-cultivated approach:
Frost and cold tolerance in the potato genus is concentrated almost entirely in wild Solanum species that evolved at high, cold Andean altitudes, while the domesticated crop was selected mainly for yield and tuber quality rather than cold hardiness. Solanum acaule, Solanum vernei and Solanum commersonii are all textbook wild germplasm sources used specifically in breeding programmes to introduce frost tolerance into cultivated potato. Since breeders would have no reason to use these wild species as a frost-tolerance source if the cultivated potato already possessed that trait, the exclusion of Solanum tuberosum from this list confirms it is the frost-sensitive one among the four.
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