Author
 |
Helgeson, John |
|
Submitted to: Potato Late Blight Research Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: I have entitled this presentation the molecular "Outlook" for late blight resistance because, as yet, the molecular "Solution" has not been achieved. However, there are many reasons to believe that such may be achieved in the relatively near future.First, although the early model for molecular transformation was the tobacco plant, potato appears to be just as malleable. Second, some useful genes are already available. Positive results have been obtained with plants genetically engineered to produce Bt toxin as a defense against Colorado potato beetle. Plants expressing coat protein genes for various virus such as PLRV and PVY are resistant to the viruses. Some wild species related to potato appear to be quite resistant to late blight. Thus, if these genes can be isolated, cloned and then inserted into desirable cultivars the solution comparable with to Bt or virus coat protein expressing plants may be obtained. Because of crossing incompatibilities, capturing resistances genes by crossing into potato breeding lines doesn't always work. Progress is being made toward the goal of producing late blight resistant cultivars and it is likely that we will soon have plants that will not require extensive pesticide applications in order to produce good yields of satisfactory tubers. In conclusion, it is worth noting that the genomes of potato and tomato are very similar and that tomato molecular probes have been instrumental in advancing genome mapping in potato. Thus it can be hoped that as the solution to late blight of potato is obtained, a comparable solution to late blight of tomato can also be reached. |
