Tuberosum Group Andigena Research Articles

Late Blight Resistance Evaluation and Genome-Wide Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Wild and Cultivated Potato Species

Late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is the most devastating disease in potato-producing regions of the world. Cultivation of resistant varieties is the most effective and environmentally friendly way to control potato late blight disease, and identification of germplasms with late blight resistance and clarification their genetic relationship would promote the development of the resistant varieties. In this study, a diverse population of 189 genotypes with potential late blight resistance, consisting of 20 wild species and cultivated Solanum tuberosum Andigenum group and Chilotanum group, was screened for the presence of late blight resistance by performing challenge inoculation with four Phytophthora infestans isolates including one 13_A2 isolate, CN152. Ten elite resources with broad-spectrum resistance and 127 with isolate-specific resistance against P. infestans were identified. To improve the available gene pool for future potato breeding programs, the population was genotyped using 30 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers covering the entire potato genome. A total of 173 alleles were detected with an average of 5.77 alleles per locus. Structure analysis discriminated the 189 potato genotypes into five populations based on taxonomic classification and genetic origin with some deviations. There was no obvious clustering by country of origin, ploidy level, EBN (endosperm balance number) value, or nuclear clade. Analysis of molecular variance showed 10.08% genetic variation existed among populations. The genetic differentiation (Fst) ranged from 0.0937 to 0.1764, and the nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.2269 across populations with the range from 0.1942 to 0.2489. Further genotyping of 20K SNP array confirmed the classification of SSRs and could uncover the genetic relationships of Solanum germplasms. Our results indicate that there exits abundant genetic variation in wild and cultivated potato germplasms, while the cultivated S. tuberosum Chilotanum group has lower genetic diversity. The phenotypic and genetic information obtained in this study provide a useful guide for hybrid combination and resistance introgression from wild gene pool into cultivated species for cultivar improvement, as well as for germplasm conservation efforts and resistance gene mining.

Identification of Interspecific Potato Hybrids with Combined Resistance to Late Blight (Phytophthora Infestans) and Nematode (Globodera Rostochiensis)

Abstract Late blight (agent Phytophthora infestans) and potato cyst nematode (PCN) caused by Globodera rostochiensis are economically important pathogens, which may significantly reduce potato yields. In this study interspecific potato hybrids were used as a source of resistance for combined resistance to economically important potato pathogens: late blight and cyst nematode. The aim of our study was to identify hybrid progenies with combined resistance to both pathogens and to verify the applicability of several molecular markers associated with resistance to G. rostochiensis pathotype Ro1 to identify resistant plants. Ninety-two clones of eleven original interspecific potato hybrids obtained in crosses with the cultivated S. tuberosum group tuberosum, S. tuberosum group Andigena, S. tuberosum group Phureja and wild S. guerreroense, S. microdontum, S. kurtzianum, S. neoantipoviczii and S. tarijense potato species were screened in bioassays and by molecular markers. PCN resistant or moderately resistant clones were found among the progenies of nine hybrids. Results were highly correlated with resistance status detected by molecular markers linked to the H1 (marker 57R) and Gro1-4 (marker Gro1) genes. Marker CP113 (linked to the H1 gene) was not polymorphic and failed to detect resistance status. Combination of foliar late blight resistance and resistance to PCN was identified in hybrids obtained in crosses with plants of species S. microdontum, S. tarijense and S. phureja and in the hybrid between S. guerreroense and Black’s P. infestans race differential carrying gene R-5.

Genomic Outcomes of Haploid Induction Crosses in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

The challenges of breeding autotetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum) have motivated the development of alternative breeding strategies. A common approach is to obtain uniparental dihaploids from a tetraploid of interest through pollination with S. tuberosum Andigenum Group (formerly S. phureja) cultivars. The mechanism underlying haploid formation of these crosses is unclear, and questions regarding the frequency of paternal DNA transmission remain. Previous reports have described aneuploid and euploid progeny that, in some cases, displayed genetic markers from the haploid inducer (HI). Here, we surveyed a population of 167 presumed dihaploids for large-scale structural variation that would underlie chromosomal addition from the HI, and for small-scale introgression of genetic markers. In 19 progeny, we detected 10 of the 12 possible trisomies and, in all cases, demonstrated the noninducer parent origin of the additional chromosome. Deep sequencing indicated that occasional, short-tract signals appearing to be of HI origin were better explained as technical artifacts. Leveraging recurring copy number variation patterns, we documented subchromosomal dosage variation indicating segregation of polymorphic maternal haplotypes. Collectively, 52% of the assayed chromosomal loci were classified as dosage variable. Our findings help elucidate the genomic consequences of potato haploid induction and suggest that most potato dihaploids will be free of residual pollinator DNA.

Coincidence of potato CONSTANS (StCOL1) expression and light cannot explain night-break repression of tuberization.

In the obligate short‐day potato Solanum tuberosum group Andigena (Solanum andigena), short days, or actually long nights, induce tuberization. Applying a night break in the middle of this long night represses tuberization. However, it is not yet understood how this repression takes place. We suggest a coincidence model, similar to the model explaining photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis. We hypothesize that potato CONSTANS (StCOL1), expressed in the night of a short day, is stabilized by the light of the night break. This allows for StCOL1 to repress tuberization through induction of StSP5G, which represses the tuberization signal StSP6A. We grew S. andigena plants in short days, with night breaks applied at different time points during the dark period, either coinciding with StCOL1 expression or not. StCOL1 protein presence, StCOL1 expression and expression of downstream targets StSP5G and StSP6A were measured during a 24‐h time course. Our results show that a night break applied during peak StCOL1 expression is unable to delay tuberization, while coincidence with low or no StCOL1 expression leads to severely repressed tuberization. These results imply that coincidence between StCOL1 expression and light does not explain why a night break represses tuberization in short days. Furthermore, stable StCOL1 did not always induce StSP5G, and upregulated StSP5G did not always lead to fully repressed StSP6A. Our findings suggest there is a yet unknown level of control between StCOL1, StSP5G and StSP6A expression, which determines whether a plant tuberizes.

The tuberization signal StSP6A represses flower bud development in potato.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) can reproduce sexually through flowering and asexually through tuberization. While tuberization has been thoroughly studied, little research has been done on potato flowering. Flower bud development in the strictly short-day tuberizing S. tuberosum group Andigena is impaired under short-day conditions. This impaired development may indicate that tuberization negatively influences flowering. Here, we determine how tuberization affects flower bud development. To find out whether the absence of tubers improves flowering, we prevented tuberization by: (i) grafting potato scions onto wild potato rootstocks, which were unable to form tubers; (ii) removing stolons, the underground structures on which tubers form; and (iii) using plants that were silenced in the tuberization signal StSP6A. Additionally, transgenic plants with increased StSP6A expression were used to determine if flower bud development was impaired. The absence of a tuber sink alone did not accelerate flower bud development, nor did it allow more plants to reach anthesis (open flowering stage) or have more open flowers. Interestingly, reducing StSP6A expression improved flower bud development, and increasing expression impaired it. Our results show that flower bud development in potato is repressed by the tuberization signal StSP6A, and not by competition with the underground tuber sink.

Molecular and genetic characterization of the Ryadg locus on chromosome XI from Andigena potatoes conferring extreme resistance to potato virus Y

Key messageWe have elucidated the Andigena origin of the potato Ryadg gene on chromosome XI of CIP breeding lines and developed two marker assays to facilitate its introgression in potato by marker-assisted selection.Potato virus Y (PVY) is causing yield and quality losses forcing farmers to renew periodically their seeds from clean stocks. Two loci for extreme resistance to PVY, one on chromosome XI and the other on XII, have been identified and used in breeding. The latter corresponds to a well-known source of resistance (Solanum stoloniferum), whereas the one on chromosome XI was reported from S. stoloniferum and S. tuberosum group Andigena as well. To elucidate its taxonomic origin in our breeding lines, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of tightly linked markers (M45, M6) and screened 251 landraces of S. tuberosum group Andigena for the presence of this gene. Our results indicate that the PVY resistance allele on chromosome XI in our breeding lines originated from S. tuberosum group Andigena. We have developed two marker assays to accelerate the introgression of Ryadg gene into breeding lines by marker-assisted selection (MAS). First, we have multiplexed RYSC3, M6 and M45 DNA markers flanking the Ryadg gene and validated it on potato varieties with known presence/absence of the Ryadg gene and a progeny of 6,521 individuals. Secondly, we developed an allele-dosage assay particularly useful to identify multiplex Ryadg progenitors. The assay based on high-resolution melting analysis at the M6 marker confirmed Ryadg plex level as nulliplex, simplex and duplex progenitors and few triplex progenies. These marker assays have been validated and can be used to facilitate MAS in potato breeding.

Histopathology of Andean Potato (Solanum tuberosum Andigenum group) varieties parasitized by the false root-knot nematode, Nacobbus aberrans.

Landraces of the Solanum tuberosum Andigenum group are abundant and diverse. They are a valuable genetic resource possessing resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. In the Andean region, populations of the false root-knot nematode Nacobbus aberrans became specialized to infect native potatoes, being one of the major limiting factors affecting this crop. A better understanding of the host plant-parasite interactions is important in order to select tolerant or resistant plants to be included in management programs. Despite the close of association of N. aberrans with potato, and the great diversity of the S. tuberosum Andigenum group, few histopathological studies have been conducted. The aim of this work was to analyze histological alterations induced by different Argentine populations of the nematode in naturally infested roots of four Andean potato varieties (Collareja, Negra Imilla, Ojo de Señorita and Colorada). All the varieties showed hyperplastic tissue in the central zone of galls, where syncytia developed in close association with the nematode female. Syncytia were composed of modified hyperplastic tissue and parenchyma xylem cells. The results showed differences among varieties in their response to nematode populations, with Ojo de Señorita and Negra Imilla being the most susceptible ones. This study is the first describing histopathological alterations induced by N. aberrans in susceptible Andean potato landraces.

Cold sweetening diversity in Andean potato germplasm from Argentina

Cold-induced sweetening (CIS) is the accumulation of sucrose and reducing sugars in potato tubers at low temperatures. This process is central for the potato processing industry. During potato chip and French fry production, reducing sugars participate in the Maillard reaction to produce dark pigmented products not acceptable to consumers. Andean potatoes (Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena) constitute an enormous wealth of potato germplasm that can contribute to increase genetic diversity in breeding programs of many traits, including CIS. We analyzed reducing sugar content and chip quality in freshly harvested and cold-stored tubers from 48 native accessions. Andean accessions showed high variation in reducing sugar content and were classified in three types of CIS responses: type I, reducing sugar content before and after 4°C storage was lower than the value required by industry; type II, reducing sugar content before storage was acceptable, but after 4°C storage incremented up to non-acceptable levels; and type III, reducing sugar content was unacceptable before and after storage. Five Andean accessions presented acceptable reducing sugar content and good chip quality before and after 4°C storage in a consistent manner throughout several experiments. These features make them a useful source for improving the potato industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of Polyphenols, Anthocyanins and Carotenoids in Tubers from Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja, Stenotomum and Andigena

Sixty-five Solanum tuberosum group Andigena, Phureja and Stenotomum genotypes from an initial population of 1,500 were analyzed for phenylpropanoids, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity. Total phenolic content ranged from 3 to 49 mg g−1 DW, total carotenoids from 4.1 to 154 μg/g DW, anthocyanins from 0.27 to 34 mg g−1 DW and antioxidant capacity from 60 to 1,767 μmol TE/g DW. HPLC analysis of phenolic extracts revealed that 5-O-chlorogenic acid (5CGA) was the most abundant polyphenol in all genotypes. Ten genotypes were independently grown out for more in-depth phytonutrient analysis. The Phureja genotypes RN 27.01 had the highest polyphenol, anthocyanin and antioxidant content, while RN 39.05 had the highest carotenoid content. The tuber percentage dry matter varied markedly among the ten genotypes, influencing the phytonutrient values when expressed on a dry weight basis. Chlorogenic acid concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 29.4 mg g−1 DW and kaempferol-3-rutinose was present up to 3 mg g−1 DW. Petunidin-3-O-coum-rutinoside-5-O-glu or pelargonidin-3-O-coum-rutinoside-5-O-glu were the most abundant anthocyanins. The principal carotenoids were lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, and antheraxanthin, but no one carotenoid was predominant in all genotypes. These findings further support utilization of Phureja group germplasm for phytonutrient enhancement efforts.

Genetic diversity and origin of cultivated potatoes based on plastid microsatellite polymorphism

The origin of cultivated potatoes has remaining questions. In this study, 237 accessions of all cultivated species and 155 accessions of wild species closely related to cultivated potatoes, including their putative ancestors, were analyzed using 15 plastid microsatellites (SSRs) to investigate genetic diversity and their relationships with the wild species. We here used polymorphic plastid SSRs we developed from potato plastid genome sequences as well as already known plastid SSR markers. All 15 loci were polymorphic and identified a total of 127 haplotypes. Dramatic decreases in levels of genetic diversity were revealed in landraces in comparison with wild ancestor species. The plastid SSR results showed a decrease in haplotype number and diversity from Peru to both north and south. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct groups. One of them, group A, contained the majority of accessions of cultivated species of the Solanum tuberosum Andigenum group including all accessions of cultivated diploid and triploid cytotypes of this group (S. chaucha, S. phureja, and S. stenotomum by a former taxonomic system) and most of tetraploid accessions of the S.tuberosum Andigenum group (S. tuberosum subsp. andigenum), and the majority of accessions of wild ancestors from the northern members of the S. brevicaule complex. Another group B comprised most of the wild species accessions and almost exclusively hybrid cultivated species which have introgressed plastid genomes from the other wild gene pools. Lack of clustering of traditional cultivated species (as used above) support a revised group classification of S. tuberosum.

Comparison of Different Approaches to Establish a Core Collection of Andigena (Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena) Potatoes

A core collection of germplasm is a representative set of accessions capturing the complete genetic diversity of the entire collection with minimum repetitiveness. In the present study, in order to develop a core set from an entire collection of 740 accessions of Andigena potato (Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena), data were recorded on 21 morphological descriptors during 2009–2010 autumn crops at Jalandhar, Punjab, India. To select accessions for the core set, the conventional hierarchical cluster analysis and PowerCore, which apply the advanced M strategy of heuristic search, were used. In hierarchical cluster analysis, three sampling strategies within clusters were followed, that is, selections based on random numbers, selections based on maximum principal component analysis (PCA) score and random selections from distinct groups formed in a cluster based on Euclidean distances. Comparison of the range, mean, variance, variance difference, variable rate, coincidence rate and Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H′) of the core sets made by different sampling methods showed that in the use of hierarchical cluster analysis, the core set can be best sampled based on the PCA scores. However, comparison of hierarchical cluster analysis and heuristic search (PowerCore) showed that heuristic search had an edge over the hierarchical cluster analysis as the former covered more diversity, and the coverage was 100% for as many as 19 descriptors in the core set. Besides covering the maximum allelic diversity of the entire collection, the core set of 78 accessions made by the PowerCore also preferentially included accessions possessing desired agronomic characters.

The Enigma of Solanum maglia in the Origin of the Chilean Cultivated Potato, Solanum tuberosum Chilotanum Group1

The Enigma of Solanum maglia in the Origin of the Chilean Cultivated Potato, Solanum tuberosum Chilotanum Group. Landrace potato cultivars occur in two broad geographic regions: the high Andes from western Venezuela south to northern Argentina (Solanum tuberosum Andigenum Group, “Andigenum”), and lowland south-central Chile (S. tuberosum Chilotanum Group, “Chilotanum”), with a coastal desert and 560 km between southernmost populations of Andigenum and Chilotanum. Unlike Andigenum landraces, Chilotanum landraces are adapted to long days and carry a 241 base pair plastid DNA deletion. However, Andigenum and Chilotanum landraces are morphologically similar. We investigated a hypothesis that Chilotanum landraces arose from Solanum maglia, a rare tuber-bearing species found in Chile and Argentina. This hypothesis was formulated first based on morphological analyses of starch grains of extant and preserved (12,500 years before present) S. maglia, and on putative sympatry of extant S. maglia and Chilotanum landraces. Our new starch grain analyses fail to support this hypothesis; we could find no evidence of current sympatric distributions, and S. maglia lacks the 241-bp plastid deletion. However, microsatellite data group all accessions of S. maglia exclusively with Chilotanum, which is supported by our previous observation at the single locus of the waxy gene. These results could be interpreted in various ways, but all explanations have problems. One explanation is that S. maglia is a progenitor of Chilotanum. However, the plastid deletion in Chilotanum but not S. maglia cannot be easily explained. Another explanation is that Chilotanum was formed by hybridization between S. maglia and pre-Chilotanum, but this conflicts with prior cladistic analyses. These new data shed light on aspects of this question and highlight various evolutionary scenarios, but the origin of Chilotanum and the involvement of S. maglia in its origin remain an enigma.

Ecogeography of ploidy variation in cultivated potato (Solanumsect.Petota)

The taxonomy of cultivated potatoes has been highly controversial, with estimates of species numbers ranging from 3 to 17. Ploidy level has been one of the most important taxonomic characters to recognize cultivated potato species, containing diploid (2n = 2x = 24), triploid (2n = 3x = 36), tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48), and pentaploid (2n = 5x = 60) cultivars. We tested the environmental associations of different ploidy levels in cultivated potato species that traditionally have been recognized as Linnaean taxa to see whether, in combination with prior morphological, molecular, and crossing data, some of the ploidy variants can be recognized as distinct taxa. • We summarize 2780 chromosome counts of landrace cultivated potatoes, provide georeferences to 2048 of them, and analyze these data for 20 environmental variables at 10-min resolution using the randomForest algorithm to explore associations with taxa and ploidy variants. • Except for the S. tuberosum Chilotanum Group and extreme northern and southern range extensions of the Andigenum Group, it is impossible to find distinct habitats for the ploidy variants of the S. tuberosum Andigenum Group. • Our distributional and ecological data, in combination with prior results from morphology, microsatellites, and crossing data, provide yet additional data to support a major reclassification of cultivated potato species. A rational, stable, and universally accepted taxonomy of this major crop plant will greatly aid all users of wild and cultivated potatoes from breeders to gene bank managers to ecologists and evolutionary biologists.

Hybrid origins of cultivated potatoes

Solanum section Petota is taxonomically difficult, partly because of interspecific hybridization at both the diploid and polyploid levels. The taxonomy of cultivated potatoes is particularly controversial. Using DNA sequence data of the waxy gene, we here infer relationships among the four species of cultivated potatoes accepted in the latest taxonomic treatment (S. ajanhuiri, S. curtilobum, S. juzepczukii and S. tuberosum, the latter divided into the Andigenum and Chilotanum Cultivar Groups). The data support prior ideas of hybrid origins of S. ajanhuiri from the S. tuberosum Andigenum Group (2x = S. stenotomum) × S. megistacrolobum; S. juzepczukii from the S. tuberosum Andigenum Group (2x = S. stenotomum) × S. acaule; and S. curtilobum from the S. tuberosum Andigenum Group (4x = S. tuberosum subsp. andigenum) × S. juzepczukii. For the tetraploid cultivar-groups of S. tuberosum, hybrid origins are suggested entirely within much more closely related species, except for two of three examined accessions of the S. tuberosum Chilotanum Group that appear to have hybridized with the wild species S. maglia. Hybrid origins of the crop/weed species S. sucrense are more difficult to support and S. vernei is not supported as a wild species progenitor of the S. tuberosum Andigenum Group.

Partial Resistance to Potato Black Dot, Caused by Colletotrichum coccodes in Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena

Black dot is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) S.J. Hughes. The disease is prevalent in potato fields and can be of economic concern by itself, or as a part of the potato early dying syndrome. Little is known about resistance to this disease. In the present study resistance to potato black dot was tested in Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena. Forty accessions were chosen randomly from the core collection and screened. The accessions originated from Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Argentina and Costa Rica. Five accessions had less (P ≤ 0.05) disease on roots and stems than a set of commercial standards. These accessions were: PIs 189473, 230475, 161683, 243367 and 230470. They were retested to validate their partial resistance. Fifteen plants, each a unique genotype, were selected from each accession and were propagated into multiple clones that were inoculated with the pathogen. Three genotypes were identified with less (P < 0.05) disease on roots and stems than the industry standard. These genotypes originated from the accessions PI-243367 and PI-230475. Clones of the resistant genotypes were added to the potato germplasm collection located at the Potato Improvement Laboratory of the USDA-ARS near Prosser, WA, to be used in the development of black dot resistant commercial varieties.

Inferred origin of several Native American potatoes from the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska using SSR markers

Certain Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska of the USA have grown potatoes in their gardens for many generations. In this study, the origin of several potatoes collected from Native gardens was investigated. Fourteen SSR markers covering the 12 potato homologs yielding a total of 199 alleles were amplified and scored in Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena (52 accessions), S. tuberosum Group. Tuberosum (39 accessions) and wild species (6 accessions). “Ozette” from the Makah Nation on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State was closely related to “Maria’s” and “Kasaan” potatoes collected from Native Alaskan gardens in Southeast Alaska. These three potatoes were more closely related to either two Mexican and one Peruvian andigena accessions or three Chilean Group Tuberosum accessions, while being relatively less related to the old European or modern varieties and most distantly related to Group Andigenum. “To-Le-Ak” was closely related to two Chilean tuberosum accessions and one old European variety. All Native potatoes harbored T-type chloroplast genome indicating that their maternal lineage is shared with Chilean Group Tuberosum. Using genetic relationship as a guide to origin it appears plausible that the Native American/Alaskan cultivars are either directly or indirectly from Mexico and Chile. These Native potato cultivars present a possible second route of diffusion distinct from the South America to Europe transfer which has been assumed to the sole means by which potato was spread out of South America.

The single Andigenum origin of Neo-Tuberosum potato materials is not supported by microsatellite and plastid marker analyses

Neo-Tuberosum refers to cultivated potato adapted to long-day tuberization and a syndrome of related morphological and physiological traits, developed by intercrossing and selection of short-day adapted potatoes of the Solanum tuberosum Andigenum Group, native from the Andes of western Venezuela to northern Argentina. This re-creation of the modern potato helped support the theory of an Andigenum Group origin of potato in temperate regions and the possibility to access the largely untapped diversity of the Andigenum Group germplasm by base broadening breeding. This Neo-Tuberosum derived theory, the re-creation of the modern potato from Andigenum germplasm, has been universally accepted for almost 40 years, and has had tremendous impact in planning some breeding programs and supporting phylogenetic conclusions in cultivated potato. We show, with microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) and plastid DNA marker data, that Neo-Tuberosum germplasm is closely related to Chilotanum Group landraces from lowland south-central Chile rather than to Andigenum Group germplasm. We interpret this quite unexpected result to be caused by strong rapid selection against the original Andigenum clones after unintended hybridization with Chilotanum Group germplasm. In addition, we show that Neo-Tuberosum and Andigenum Group germplasm did not serve to broaden the overall genetic diversity of advanced potato varieties, but rather that Neo-Tuberosum lines and lines not using this germplasm are statistically identical with regard to genetic diversity as assessed by SSRs. These results question the long-standing Neo-Tuberosum derived theory and have implications in breeding programs and phylogenetic reconstructions of potato.

Transfer of resistance to potato cyst nematode (globodera pallida) into cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum through first division restitution 2n pollen

Genetic resistance to potato cyst nematode is considered as one of the most effective means of increasing yield and reducing nematode infestation levels in potato fields. In this study, resistance to this nematode was successfully transferred from diploid tuber-bearing Solanums to the tetraploid gene pool using a 4x-2x breeding approach. More specifically, resistance from Solanum vernei, S. sparsipilum and haploids of S. tuberosum group Andigena was introgressed into conventional tetraploid clones, using first division restitution (FDR) 2n gametes. Furthermore, some of the FDR diploid parents had similar breeding values as advanced resistant tetraploid clones which were developed only after several cycles of selection against the potato cyst nematode.

The genetics of triploid formation and its relationship to endosperm balance number in potato

The ability of Solanum tuberosum Group Andigena clones to produce triploids (2n = 3x = 36) in 4x(4 endosperm balance number (EBN)) x 2x(2EBN) crosses was investigated. The difference in triploid production among the clones tested, though large, appears to be the result of low heritability. The triploids produced in the 4x x 2x crosses did not seem to bear heritable factors that improved triploid production in 2x and 4x populations derived from them. Yet, the seeds/fruit data from a similar 4x x 2x cross fit a Poisson distribution. It was argued that the low probability nonheritable random events responsible for the triploids from 4x x 2x and 2x x 4x crosses were misfertilizations, mitotic abnormalities in the gametophyte, and (or) mitotic misdivisions in the endosperm.

Immunity to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus: Screening of exotic Solanum species

Accessions from exotic Solanum species, including diploid and tetraploid species, were screened for immunity to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, the causal agent of potato ring rot. The diploid species included S. infundibuliforme, S. lesteri, S. megistacrolobum, S. tuberosum Group Phureja, S. polyadenium, S. pinnatisectum, S. raphanifolium, S. sparsipilum, S. sanctae-rosae, S. tuberosum Group Stenotomum, S. toralapanum, and S. verrucosum. The tetraploid species included S. tuberosum Group Andigena, S. acaule, S. fendleri, S. hjertingii, S. oplocense, S. polytrichon, and S. stoloniferum. Apparent immunity was initially found in several diploid species, but was not present during subsequent retesting. Immunity was found in nine accessions of tetraploid S. acaule. These accessions maintained their immunity during testing over an eight-month period. S. acaule appears to be a good source of immunity for introgression studies.