Family: Solanaceae

Solanum chacoense is a species of wild potato native to South America, particularly found in regions like Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, which also includes other significant agricultural crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Solanum chacoense is often used in potato breeding programs due to its genetic diversity and resistance to various diseases and pests that affect cultivated potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). With an ability to spread by bird and mammal-dispersed seeds, as well as vegetatively by rhizomes and stolons, this plant has escaped from cultivation in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and has been documented as naturalized in Kula, Maui. Where established, it may compete with desirable vegetation, and contains glycoalkaloids that may be toxic to animals or people if accidentally or intentionally consumed.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability and elevation range
  
• Escaped from cultivation in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and naturalized on Maui, Hawaiian Islands.
  
• A potential weed of crops and the natural environment
  
• Other Solanum species are invasive weeds
  
• Produces glycoalkaloids that deter insect browsing, and may deter mammalian browsing as well (giving the plant a competitive advantage)
  
• Glycoalkaloids can be toxic to animals and people if accidentally or intentionally consumed.
  
• Shade-tolerant (could invade more intact vegetation communities)
  
• A geophyte, with tubers that allow plants to persist underground
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by stolons and tubers.
  
• Certain genotypes may be self-compatible (able to self-seed)
  
• Able to be spread from dumped garden waste
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, mammals, and through intentional cultivation
  
• Tubers, and seeds may also be spread if cultivated near water sources

Low Risk Traits:

• Where naturalized, no significant negative impacts have been documented to date
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Most plants are self-incompatible (preventing single plants from setting viable seed)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control, as they have with other invasive Solanum species