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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365111
Research Project: Integrated Weed and Insect Pest Management Systems for Sustainable Sugarcane Production

Location: Sugarcane Research

Title: Genetic diversity of divine nightshade (Solanum nigrescens Mart. & Gal.) in Louisiana

Author
item FOSTER, MATTHEW - LSU Agcenter
item ORGERON, ALBERT - LSU Agcenter
item BAISAKH, NIRANJAN - LSU Agcenter
item Spaunhorst, Douglas

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/2019
Publication Date: 12/1/2019
Citation: Foster, M.R., Orgeron, A.J., Baisakh, N., Spaunhorst, D.J. 2019. Genetic diversity of divine nightshade (Solanum nigrescens Mart. & Gal.) in Louisiana [abstract]. Journal American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 39:51.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Divine nightshade (Solanum nigrescens Mart. & Gal.) is a new problematic weed pest of sugarcane in Louisiana and has been identified in 19 of the 24 sugarcane producing parishes. This weed is of concern due to its ability to compete with sugarcane and its tolerance to traditional herbicide programs in Louisiana sugarcane production. In the spring of 2018, leaf material from a single divine nightshade plant was randomly collected from sugarcane fields in 13 parishes. Additionally, seeds were collected from a single divine nightshade plant in Iberville Parish, and were planted. Leaf material from 9 of the progeny were also collected for analysis. For comparison, leaf material from a single American black nightshade (Solanum americanum Mill.) plant was collected from a pasture at the LSU AgCenter Central Research Station in Baton Rouge, LA. Genetic diversity among the 24 samples was evaluated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis and separation of the samples using a UPGMA tree to determine the presence of common alleles. All samples except the American black nightshade were at least 95% similar in their genetic profile with 170 alleles. Four of the 24 samples were 100% genetically identical. Findings show the close genetic relationship among divine nightshade plants collected over a wide geographical area as well as among progeny plants. Results also support that divine nightshade is an introduced species as it was completely different genetically as compared to American black nightshade.