EFFECT OF SOLANINE ON THE POTATO PLANT* 



J. J. SKINNER 

 Bureau of Soils, Washington, D. C. 



In connection with the investigation of the unproductivity 

 of some potato soils, the effect of solanine on the growth of 

 potatoes was studied. Solanine is a constituent of the potato 

 vine and occurs in appreciable quantities in young potato sprouts. 

 In as much as solanine is a constituent of potatoes, it is interesting 

 to note its effect on growth when presented to the plant. 



Otto and Kooper, 2 also Albo, 3 showed that nicotine, which is 

 a constituent of the tobacco plant, was beneficial to the growth 

 of tobacco. These experiments were made by adding nicotine to 

 culture solutions in which the plant was growing. 



Lutz 4 has shown that atropine, which is a constituent of Atropa 

 belladona, is harmful to the growth of that plant. His experi- 

 ments were made by adding atropine to sand in which the plant 

 was growing. 



The experiments conducted to test the effect of solanine on the 

 growth of potatoes were made by growing the potato plants in 

 aqueous solutions. The potatoes were sprouted on perforated 

 aluminum disks floated on the surface of a pan of water by means 

 of cork or rubber floats. When the sprouts were about two inches 

 high the mother potato was removed from the plant, leaving the 

 roots and top intact, thus forcing the seedling to live upon the 

 culture media furnished. The young plants were then supported 



1 From the laboratory of Soil Fertility Investigations, by permission of the 

 Secretary of Agriculture. 



2 Otto, R. and Kooper, W. D. The influence of poisonous alkaloid solutions 

 on soil and plants. Landw. Jahrb., 39, 397 (1910). 



3 Albo, G. The physiological role of nicotine in the tobacco plant. Contrib. 

 Biol. Veg. Roy. 1st. Bot., Palerno, 3, 69. 1902. 



4 Lutz, M. L. Recherches sur la nutrition des veg^taux a l'aide de substances 

 azotees de nature organique (aminis sels d'ammonium composes et alcaloides.) 

 These, Paris, (1898); Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. (8), 7, 1. 1899. 



253 



THE PLANT WORLD, VOL. 15, NO. 11, NOVEMBER, 1912 



