Solanum

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Solanum

Nightshades
Genus:Solanum
Family:Solanaceae
Weediness:Some species are problem weeds
Pollination:Insects

Solanum is a large, variable genus of annual plants and perennial plants, forbs, vines, sub-shrubs, shrubs, and small trees. They often have attractive fruit and flowers. Most are poisonous, but many bear edible fruits, leaves, or tubers, and the genus includes several cultivated species, including three major food crops: Tomatoes, Potatoes, and Eggplants.

Description

Annual, perennial, or tropical herbs or vines with alternate leaves and a watery sap. The flowers are in cymes or solitary, perfect, showy, 4-5 parted, with thick yellow anthers. Fruits are fleshy berries. Most species have a distinctive scent common to the genus.

Species

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
Forked Nightshade (Solanum sisymbriifolium)
Solanum mammosum
Solanum pseudocapsicum fruit

Uses

Aside from the species grown as food crops, many species are cultivated for their showy flowers and fruits. Several species are weeds.

Maintenance

Monitoring for pests and diseases is very important for all species of Solanum.

Pests and diseases

Crown Gall

Stem Rot

Leaf Spots

Wilts

Blights

Root Rots

Damping Off

Viruses

Mop-top

Spraing

Leaf Roll

Other Viri

Root Knots

Potato Cyst Nematodes

Calcium Deficiency

Drought (causes hollow tubers on potatoes)

Aphids

Hoppers

Psyllids

Whiteflies

Bugs

Crickets

Thrips

Maggots

Beetles

Caterpillars

Mites

Millipedes

Slugs and Snails

References

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