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Impact of Different US Genotypes of Phytophthora infestans on Potato Seed Tuber Rot and Plant Emergence in a Range of Cultivars and Advanced Breeding Lines

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Abstract

Seed pieces of different potato cultivars and advanced breeding lines (ABLs) from north central US breeding programmes were inoculated with different genotypes of Phytophthora infestans (US-1, US-1.7, US-8, US-11 and US-14). The effect of these genotypes of P. infestans on seed piece rot severity after re-storage was assessed using an image analysis technique. P. infestans genotypes demonstrated variable ability to cause seed piece rot and to reduce plant emergence measured as final plant stand (%) and the relative area under the plant emergence curve (RAUEPC). The US-8 genotype of P. infestans was the most aggressive genotype, as indicated by tuber rot severity across all cultivars/ABLs tested, followed by US-14 in both years. The US-1, US-1.7 and US-11 genotypes were the least aggressive, causing only moderate seed piece rotting across cultivars/ABLs tested. Similar trends were observed in two field experiments, where the US-8 and US-14 genotypes delayed or reduced emergence. Values of final plant stand (%) and RAUEPC demonstrated that the cultivars/ABLs Atlantic, MSJ453-4Y and Torridon were the least susceptible across all P. infestans genotypes. In both experiments cv. Pike was the most susceptible. Other cultivars/ABLs demonstrated variable responses to different genotypes of P. infestans. No symptoms of P. infestans were observed on emerged plants up to 60 days after planting. The variability of susceptibility of tubers to different genotypes of P. infestans has implications for plant breeding efforts in that the major emphasis in the past has been to breed for foliar resistance, with limited emphasis on the reaction of the tuber. Results from this study suggest that highly aggressive genotypes of P. infestans such as US-8 may lead to severe tuber rotting and deterioration of tubers before emergence, but despite this observation the US-8 genotype is still predominant in North America.

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Abbreviations

ABL:

Advanced breeding line

ARI:

Average reflective intensity

AUEPC:

Area under the emergence progress curve

DAI:

Days after inoculation

DAP:

Days after planting

RARI (%):

Relative average reflective intensity

RAUEPC:

Relative area under the emergence progress curve

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded, in part, by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station GREEEN (Generating Research and Extension to Meet Economic and Environmental Needs) Project GR 05/046, and supported in principal by the NCERA 205 (Quad State Potato Group) and CSREES Hatch Project Number MICL01966 and the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. Special thanks to Rob Schafer for technical expertise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, 35 Plant Biology Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    William W. Kirk, Firas Abu-El Samen, Pavani Tumbalam & Phillip Wharton

  2. Department of Crop and Soil Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    David Douches

  3. Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Christian A. Thill

  4. Plant Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA

    Asunta Thompson

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  1. William W. Kirk
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Correspondence to William W. Kirk.

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Kirk, W.W., Abu-El Samen, F., Tumbalam, P. et al. Impact of Different US Genotypes of Phytophthora infestans on Potato Seed Tuber Rot and Plant Emergence in a Range of Cultivars and Advanced Breeding Lines. Potato Res. 52, 121–140 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11540-009-9125-6

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