Are my potatoes turning into tomatoes?

[OllieC]

OllieC's post explains my thinking. A mate of mine used to share digs at Cambridge with a bloke who was doing a PHD on spuds.. I think it was him who told me about it.

So, this spudologist mate of yours, did he know his onions?!?!  :P

[OllieC]

[growmore]

I am wondering Same as Tim..Why chop em down Ken? 

[Bean_Queen]

How could the offspring of a potato become poisonous?  I don't get it. The potato seedball is poisonous, I grant you, but if you let the seeds grow into actual spuds, why would they be toxic?

PS. I've been googling to find out, and I've found the Potato Breeder's Handbook on the net, but haven't the time to read it: http://www.sharebooks.ca/ebooks_by_author2.php?author=Robinson%2C+Raoul+A.

[OllieC]

There's a fairly good, brief explanation here on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato

Essentially, they're all a bit poisonous, but not enough to have any impact on a normal tattie muncher...

[star]

When you think the cousin of the potato and tomato are the nightshades.....which are prrretty toxic.

All belong to the solanacae family, I think leaving breeding to the professionals is probably better.

Unless anyone wants lunch? 8)