Download Solanum carolinense

EUROPEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN PLANT PROTECTION ORGANIZATION
ЕВРОПЕЙСКАЯ И СРЕДИЗЕМНОМОРСКАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ПО КАРАНТИНУ И ЗАЩИТЕ РАСТЕНИЙ
ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE ET MEDITERRANEENNE POUR LA PROTECTION DES PLANTES
02/9186
Point 7.8
Solanum carolinense
IDENTITY
Name:
Solanum carolinense L.
Synonyms:
Solanum hirsutum Nitt., S. sodomeum Roalt., S. plecvi Dun.
Taxonomic position: Solanaceae
Common name: horsenettle, bull nettle, apple-of-Sodom, wild tomato, devil’s tomato, devil’s
potato, sand briar (English); паслён каролинский (Russian).
Bayer code: SOLCA
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Europe: absent.
Asia: Bangladesh, Georgia (only part of the former USSR where this weed has been found),
India, Nepal, Japan.
North America: Canada, USA.
Oceania: Australia (but the species introduced into Australia may be the related robust
horsenettle Solanum dimidiatum), New Zealand.
Remark: S. carolinense is native to North America and has spread from there to other areas.
ON WHICH CROPS
All crops may be infested by S. carolinense, especially sown crops. The weed also causes
problems in orchards, vineyards, tea plantations, pastures and meadows, and often occurs on
roadsides and uncultivated land.
BIOLOGY
S. carolinense is a perennial weed. It reproduces mainly by its rhizomes, but may also reproduce
by seeds. It has a well developed underground system, with a main root going deep into the soil,
to 2.4 m. At a depth of 15-25 cm, rhizomes (more than 1 m long) emerge from the main root and
provide new shoots around the mother plant. Small fragments of roots can also give rise to
adventitious shoots. The main mass of rhizomes fills the layer of soil at 15 to 45 cm depth. The
period of seed germination is very long. Flowering occurs from May to September. Seeds appear
from July to November, and remain viable for 2 years. The weed prefers well aerated sandy
soils, and is very resistant to drought.
DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION
S. carolinense is 30-120 cm tall depending on growing conditions. The stem is stout and upright,
with many branches. The plant is covered with stellate hairs. The stem, petioles, midrib and
veins of leaves are covered with strong yellow spines up to 5 mm long. The leaves are alternate,
entire, 5-15 cm long, palmately lobed, with short petioles. Flowers are large, 1.9-2.2 cm in
diameter, bisexual, actinomorphic, in axillary inflorescences. The calyx is composed of 5 sepals,
the corolla of 5 blue-white petals, and there are 5 conspicuous yellow stamens. The fruit is a
2
round smooth greenish-yellow or yellow-orange berry, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter. One berry
contains 40 to 60 seeds. The seeds are flat, oval, yellow to brown, 2-3 mm long and 0.3-0.5
thick.
MEANS OF MOVEMENT AND DISPERSAL
S. carolinense seeds are carried inside the dried berries with harvested seeds of many crops,
particularly with grain, and also with other plant products.
PATHWAYS
Contaminated seed lots (especially soybean), grain, fodder, soil and growing media, soil attached
to plants.
DAMAGE
S. carolinense is a perennial weed, reproducing by seeds and by rhizomes which strongly
compete with crops for water and nutrients. It can seriously reduce the yield and quality of
harvested cereals and other field crops, fruits, tea, etc. In pastures, the weed replaces other
herbaceous plants reducing the quality of pasturage. Animals do not feed on S. carolinense
because it is toxic. The weed is an alternative host for many pests of potato and tomato
(Colorado beetle, viruses, etc.) and helps them to establish and maintain their populations.
PHYTOSANITARY RISK
S. carolinense is an invasive weed, which continues to spread in areas where it has been
introduced. Its control is extremely difficult (especially in solanaceous crops). It could present a
risk for a large part of the EPPO region because of its drought resistance and the short period
needed for its development.
PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
The movement of agricultural seeds, grain, forage, fodder and other materials infested with fruits
and seeds of S. carolinense into pest-free areas should be restricted. Eradicative treatments with
herbicides are possible.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Savotikov YuF, Smetnik AI (1995) Guide on pests, plant diseases and weeds of quarantine
significance for the Russian Federation. Arnika, Nizhnii Novgorod (in Russian).
Shutova NN (ed.) (1970) Guide on quarantine and other dangerous pests, diseases and weeds.
2nd edition. Kolos, Moscow (in Russian).
Uva RH, Neal JC & DiTomaso JM (1997) Weeds of the Northeast. Comstock, Cornell (US).
Vasyutin AS, Smetnik AI, Mordkovich YaB, Zinchenko VN, Yudin BI, Smirnov SA,
Moskalenko GP, Shakhramanov IK, Maslyakov VYu (2001) Plant Quarantine in the Russian
Federation. Kolos, Moscow (in Russian).
Entry date 2001-11
Fig. 1. Solanum carolinense (Guide on quarantine and other dangerous pests,
diseases and weeds, 1970): 1 and 2 – parts of root system;
3 – above-ground of the plant with flowers and berries; 4 and 5 – seeds.