Phenotypic and DNA Marker-Assisted Characterization of Russian Potato Cultivars for Resistance to Potato Cyst Nematodes

Tatjana A Gavrilenko,Natalia S Klimenko,Natalia A Fomina,Aleksander V Khiutti,Olga S Afanasenko,Olga Y Antonova

doi:10.3390/agronomy11122400

Abstract

Potato is one of the most important food crops in the world and also in the Russian Federation. Among harmful organisms reducing potato yield potential, the potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are considered to be ones of the most damaging pests. Information on PCN resistant cultivars is important for potato breeding and production. Russian potato cultivars are characterized in the state-bio-test program for resistance to only one PCN species Globodera rostochiensis and one pathotype Ro1 which is reported to be present in the country. This study aimed to find domestic cultivars with multiple resistances to different PCN species and different pathotypes using phenotyping coupled with molecular marker analysis due to the risk of the occasional introduction of new pests. The phenotypic response was determined by the inoculation of plants with pathotypes Ro5 of G. rostochiensis and Pa3 of G. pallida. The obtained results were supplemented by the state-bio-test data on resistance to Ro1 of G. rostochiensis. Nine of 26 Russian cultivars were resistant both to Ro5 and Ro1 pathotypes and two cultivars possess multiple resistances to both PCN species. Most tested molecular markers associated with the Gpa2, GpaVvrn, GpaVsspl, Grp1 loci showed discrepancies with phenotyping. However, a predictive haplotype and epistatic effect were detected.

Highlights

Published: 25 November 2021Federation which is the third largest producer of the crop and fourth by potato harvested area [1]
A propagating population of G. rostochiensis was detected on cultivars carrying the H1 gene which has been remaining effective for many years against golden nematode in the state of
New York, U.S, where populations of G. rostochiensis were considered to consist solely of pathotype Ro1; later it was identified as Ro2 [79,80]

Summary

Introduction

Published: 25 November 2021Federation which is the third largest producer of the crop and fourth by potato harvested area [1]. Many harmful organisms reduce the potato yield potential. The potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are considered to one of the most damaging worldwiderecognized quarantine pests of potato [2,3,4,5]. There are two economically important PCN species–the golden cyst nematode G. rostochiensis (Wollenweber) and the pale cyst nematode G. pallida (Stone) Behrens causing 19% to 80% potato yield losses depending on the cultivar, seasonal conditions and the pathogen populations in the fields [6,7]. The quarantine status of the PCN implies the high expense for monitoring and regulatory activities. Many nematicides are ineffective and toxic to the environment. Chemical control might be ineffective [9,10]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion