ARS | Publication request: Selection for Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Potato Breeding Populations Derived from Four Cross Types

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 23, 2008
Publication Date: June 1, 2009
Citation: Bae, J., Tai, G., Jansky, S.H. 2009. Selection for Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Potato Breeding Populations Derived from Four Cross Types. Plant Breeding. 128(3):290-294.

Interpretive Summary: This manuscript compares gain from selection for Verticillium wilt resistance using two methods on four different types of populations in potato. Verticillium wilt is a widespread disease of potato that results in yield loss as a result of early dying of infected plants. There is no effective way to control the disease except through the use of chemicals, which are expensive and environmentally harmful. Selecting individual clones in plots with multiple plants was found to be the most effective strategy for identifying resistant plants. High yield and high levels of resistance were observed in tetraploid families from 4x x 2x crosses. This research will help potato breeders to more efficiently and effectively develop cultivars with resistance to Verticillium wilt, reducing the need to apply chemicals and minimizing yield loss due to this disease.

Technical Abstract: Verticillium wilt is one of the important yield-limiting diseases for potato production. To develop resistant clones, the potential for early generation selection was studied using three basic selection methods, individual, family, and within family selection, for two clonal generations. A total of 152 clones were derived from four cross types (2x x 2x, 2x x 4x, 4x x 2x, and 4x x 4x). Clones were evaluated for maturity, symptom expression, yield, and stem colonization in replicated trials. Heritability and selection response for the traits were estimated for each selection method. Direct selection in the second clonal generation and individual selection showed more gain than that from other methods in general. Both 2x x 2x and 4x x 2x families were higher yielding and had lower stem colonization scores than 2x x 4x and 4x x 4x crosses. Therefore, 2x x 2x or 4x x 2x crosses between carefully chosen parents with high yield and Verticillium wilt resistance may produce offspring with superior performance.