CHLOROPLAST DNA EVIDENCE FOR THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF TOMATOES, POTATOES, AND PEPINOS (SOLANACEAE)

We used chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis to test hypotheses o f relationships of Solanum subgenus Potatoe(including potatoes and pep inos), two other Solanum, Cyphomandra (the tree tomatoes), and Lycoper sicon (the tomatoes). Capsicum and Datura were used as outgroups. The results support two main clades among the taxa we studied: 1) Solanum subgenus Potatoe and Lycopersicon; and 2) other Solanum and Cyphomandr a. Within the first clade, the following groups were supported: a) sec t. Basarthrum and sect. Anarrhichomenum; b) sect. Etuberosum; c) sect. Petota; d) sect. Juglandifolium, including subsect. Lycopersicoides; and e) the genus Lycopersicon. These results, in combination with an a nalysis of morphological data, advocate the controversial, but previou sly suggested, treatment of Lycopersicon as congeneric with Solanum in subgenus Potatoe. Thus, the cultivated tomato will be recognized as S olanum lycopersicum L. Solanum chmielewskii and Solanum lycopersicum v ar. cerasiforme are proposed as new combinations; Solanum neorickii is proposed as a new name for Lycopersicon parviflorum. Our data also su ggest that Cyphomandra should be included within Solanum.