Transfer of resistance to potato leafroll virus, potato virus Y and potato virus X from Solarium brevidens to S. tuberosum through symmetric and designed asymmetric somatic hybridisation

Abstract

SummaryResistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV), potato virus Y (PVYo) and potato virus X (PVX) was studied in symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybrids produced by electrofusion between Solanum brevidens (2n=2×=24) and dihaploid S. tuberosum (2n=2×=24), and also in regenerants (B‐hybrids) derived through protoplast culture from a single somatic hybrid (chromosome number 48). All of the somatic hybrids between 5. brevidens and the two dihaploid lines of potato cv. Pito were extremely resistant to PLRV and PVYoand moderately resistant to PVX, irrespective of their chromosome number and ploidy level (tetraploid or hexaploid). Most (56%) of the asymmetric hybrids of irradiated S. brevidens and the dihaploid line of potato cv. Pentland Crown (PDH40) had high titres of PVYosimilar to those of PDH40, whereas the rest of the hybrids had PVYotitres less than a tenth of those in PDH40. Three B‐hybrids had a highly reduced chromosome number (27, 30 and 34), but were however as resistant to PLRV, PVYoand PVX as 5. brevidens. Two asymmetric hybrids and one B‐hybrid were extremely resistant to PLRV but susceptible to both PVY and PVX. The results suggested that resistance to PLRV in 5. brevidens is controlled by a gene or genes different from those controlling resistance to PVY and PVX, and the gene(s) for resistance to PVY and PVX are linked in S. brevidens.