Distribution of wild potato species in the North of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia

From 2001 to 2003, field collections of wild potatoes (Solanum Section Petota Solanaceae) were made in the north of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia, with the aim of determining their current distribution in this region. The collection embraced sectors of five provinces: Omasuyos, Larecaja, Camacho, Munecas and Bautista Saavedra. Five previously described wild species were collected: Solanum acaule Bitter, S. achacachense Cardenas, S. brevicaule (Bitter) Juz and Buk, S. candolleanum Berthault and S. circaeifolium Bitter, as well as four unidentified species. Some wild potato species in Bolivia, such as S. achacachense, are rare and in danger of extinction because of the destruction of their habitat. In contrast, S. brevicaule, S. candolleanum and S. circaeifolium were recorded in new areas. Some species were affected by pests (Premnotrypes sp.) or the fungus Phytophthora infestans. This is the first time that ‘Lelekoyas’ potatoes (S. tuberosum subsp. andigena) have been detected in the area of influence of Lake Titicaca. In summary, this work reports degrees of genetic erosion for some species, the finding of taxa in new geographical areas, some probable new species, and the presence of P. infestans in some of the species detected. Additional key words: danger of extinction, Phytophthora infestans, rare wild species, Solanum spp.