Transformation in Solanum commersonii Dun

Solanum commersonii (Cmm) is a tuber-bearing wild relative of the common potato (S. tuberosum). It is widespread in Paraguay and along the coasts of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, from sea level up to about 400m (Correll 1962; Hawkes 1990). Typically, it is a small, bushy plant, with flowers (deep mauve to purple on the outer surface, paler within) arranged in compact inflorescences. Generally, it is diploid (2n = 2x = 24) with an endosperm balance number (EBN) equal to 1, but autotriploid forms (2n = 3x = 36) are also known (Hanneman and Bamberg 1986).