Location: Vegetable Crops Research
Project Number: 5090-21220-005-029-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2020
End Date: Jul 31, 2022
Objective:
The objective of this collaboration is to define the effect that Potato virus Y (PVY) can have on resistance or susceptibility to Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria solani.
Approach:
Objective 1. We will test the interaction between PVY and pathogens in two ways: at the local (single leaflet) level, and at the systemic (whole We will test the interaction between PVY and pathogens in two ways: at the local (single leaflet) level, and at the systemic (whole plant) level. To test the effect of PVY at the local interaction level, single leaflets will be inoculated with PVY and then 48 hours later the inoculated leaflets will be exposed to P. infestans and A. solani. Disease symptom development will be assessed over a period of 10 days. Disease severity will be compared to that observed in the control plants that were not inoculated with PVY and in control plants that have no resistance to PVY. If an effect of PVY infection on susceptibility to other pathogens is detected, we will repeat the assays using transient expression of a PVY viral encoded protein, outside of the context of viral replication. To test the effect of systemic infection of PVY on other pathogens, a susceptible cultivar will be used to infect with PVY. Leaflets of seven 4-week-old cuttings will be rub-inoculated with PVY O-strains, and plants will be allowed to grow for an additional 4 weeks. Whole leaves will be used for detached leaf assays to assess susceptibility to P. infestans lineage US23. In order to test whether PVY infection can affect late blight resistance, we will use another 7 plants that contain the RB resistance gene in the susceptible background. If an effect of PVY infection on P. infestans resistance or susceptibility is observed, we will repeat the experiments using A. solani on plants infected with PVY O strains and PVY N-strains.
