Dependence on exogenous gibberellin for seed germination in Solanum acaule bitter and other Solanum (potato) species

Certain seed populations of the wild potato species Solanum acaule Bitter were identified as having consistent qualitative dependence on GA to germinate. This was true for both germination in petri plates and in greenhouse conditions. The effect could be transmitted across sexual generations. Progeny from crosses with GA-independent populations were intermediate, with no consistent reciprocal effect. A broad survey of 2,580 populations including 60 potato species indicated that significant dependence on GA also exists in other species. This trait may have physiological and evolutionary implications worth further investigation. Recognizing that populations of some species are highly dependent on GA allows genebank managers and other potato scientists to accurately assess seed viability and avoid inadvertent selection against useful traits which may be linked.