''Solanum acaule'' is a species of

wild potato Wild potato may refer to: * Several species belonging to the genus '' Solanum'' section '' Petota'', such as '' Solanum jamesii'', '' Solanum berthaultii'', etc. * ''Thladiantha dubia'' (not related to potato) * ''Hedysarum alpinum'', a species of ...

in the family

Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and o ...

, native to Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. It is being extensively studied for its resistance to ''

Phytophthora infestans ''Phytophthora infestans'' is an oomycete or water mold, a fungus-like microorganism that causes the serious potato and tomato disease known as late blight or potato blight. Early blight, caused by '' Alternaria solani'', is also often called ...

'' (the cause of late potato blight), Potato leafroll virus, Potato virus X, Potato virus Y,

potato cyst nematode Potato root nematodes or potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are 1-mm long roundworms belonging to the genus ''Globodera'', which comprises around 12 species. They live on the roots of plants of the family Solanaceae, such as potatoes and tomatoes. PCN ...

s, and frost, in an effort to improve the domestic potato ''

Solanum tuberosum The potato is a starchy food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern United ...

''.

References

acaule Flora of Peru Flora of Bolivia Flora of northern Chile Flora of Northwest Argentina Plants described in 1912 {{potato-stub