The role of the seed tuber in determining partial resistance to potato blackleg caused byErwinia spp.

Abstract

In 1991 and 1992, 12 potato cultivars were screened at two locations for resistance to blackleg, after vacuum infiltration of the seed withErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica orE. chrysanthemi. Cultivar differences for resistance toE.c. subsp.Atroseptica andE. chrysanthemi were found which were consistent over locations and years. Seed tubers of the same cultivars were also screened for resistance to bothErwinia spp. by using a tuber slice inoculation method. Correlation coefficients for comparisons between resistance to blackleg in the field and tuber tissue resistance under aerobic or anaerobic conditions were not significant. This could partly be explained by drastic changes in relative tuber tissue resistance of the cultivars within a 5 weeks period after planting in the field. Presprouting of seed tubers in diffuse daylight had a less pronounced effect on relative tuber tissue resistance than planting in the field. Monitoring the process of mother tuber decay during the growing season of 1993 after vacuum infiltration withE.c. subsp.atroseptica andE. chrysanthemi revealed that cultivars differed in the extent to which these bacteria enhanced the process of mother tuber decay. These differences partly explained the cultivar differences for resistance to blackleg in the field.