Persistence over time, overlapping distribution and molecular indications of interspecific hybridization in wild potato populations of Northwest Argentina

Solanum gourlayi and Solanum spegazzinii, wild potatoes endemic to Argentina, possess desirable traits for breeding. In periodical regenerations of accessions, variability was detected for morphology and breeding barriers. The persistence of these populations in nature was evaluated after more than 20 years. Both species were observed in all visited sites, along with other wild and cultivated potatoes. Chromosome numbers coincided with the originally reported, except for one population of Solanum gourlayi, with diploid and tetraploid cytotypes. The accompanying flora and environmental conditions revealed important alterations as the result of road construction, excessive stocking rates and overgrazing. Principal coordinate and cluster analyses and an AMOVA using AFLP data of three original accessions and the corresponding new accessions revealed high molecular variability and extensive overlapping. Plant grouping of accessions occurred at a distance of 0.58 for S. gourlayi, 0.62 for S. spegazzinii and 0.67 for both species. The role of natural hybridization and sexual polyploidization in the evolution of sympatric populations of wild potatoes is discussed.