Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 9, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is an important disease of potato. For years, this disease was controlled through the use of integrated pest management strategies. Since only one mating type A1 was present in most potato growing areas, the IPM strategies were fairly successful. However, in the past two decades the second mating type (A2), necessary for sexual recombination, has become widespread, and the recommended IPM methods for controlling potato late blight have become less effective. The new pathogen population causes late blight in less time and is insensitive to commonly used metalaxyl fungicides. The potato breeding selections, B0718-3 and B0767-2, that we are releasing are highly resistant to the old and new populations of P. infestans. Late blight resistance in these selections is not race specific. Plant breeders, plant geneticists and molecular biologist can use the resistance in these selections to develop commercial varieties suitable for effective IPM programs. The use of varieties with resistance from these selections will reduce production costs and will improve the environment by reducing the need for pesticides.
Technical Abstract:
Potato breeding selections B0718-3 and B0767-2 are being released by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service as germplasm that is highly resistant to current populations of Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, the causal organism of potato late blight. In six years of testing in late blight disease field plots in Maine and other locations, these clones had the best resistance for this disease.
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