Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research
Project Number: 8062-22000-023-031-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2026
End Date: Jun 30, 2027
Objective:
The goal of this project is to investigate mechanisms of compatible and incompatible interactions between potato and potato cyst nematodes (PCN). A better understanding of the molecular basis of host susceptibility and resistance to nematode infection will lead to the development of novel and sustainable means for PCN control and eradication in the U.S. Specific objectives include: 1) Analyze and characterize nematode effector proteins and their host targets contributing to disease or plant resistance, and 2) Evaluate responses of potato breeding clones, existing varieties, and wild potato clones to PCN infection, generate mapping populations, and identify and characterize candidate PCN resistance genes in wild potato species.
Approach:
Objective 1) Molecular biology and functional genomics approaches will be used to elucidate the function of effector proteins and their interacting host proteins in host susceptibility or resistance.
Objective 2) Bioassays will be used to evaluate responses of potato lines and clones to nematode infection, genetic crosses will be made to generate mapping populations for downstream discovery of candidate resistance genes through genetics, high-throughput sequencing, molecular biology, and functional genomics approaches.