EVALUATION OF POTATO CULTIVARS AND BREEDING LINES FOR RESISTANCE TO GLOBODERA ROSTOCHIENSIS AND GLOBODERA PALLIDA

Anna Przetakiewicz

a.przetakiewicz@ihar.edu.pl
Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute; Radzików Research Center, Radzików, 05-870 Błonie, Poland (Poland)

Dorota Milczarek

Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute; Młochów Research Center, Platanowa Str. 19, 05-831 Młochów, Poland (Poland)

Abstract

Nematodes are among the most important agents affecting potato crops. Heavy infestations by Globodera rosto-chiensis and G. pallida can cause significant yield losses and limit the choice of potato cultivars that can be grown effectively (Oerke, 2006). Breeding of new potato cultivar resistant to G. rostochiensis and G. pallida is a long-term process. It is preceded by screening of potato breeding lines for resistance in repeated biotests, which seems to be the most effective and safest method of protection. Evaluation of nematode resistance is an important element of charac-terization of breeding lines and new cultivars. Resistance to Globodera spp. is evaluated in biological tests. The use of DNA markers for detecting nematode resistance genes may be an alternative approach to phenotypic evaluation of resistance degree of potato plants (Jena and Mackill, 2008). The goal of this report is focused on a description of resistance assessment procedure of breeding lines and varieties of potato to PCN and on comparison of biological and molecular methods of resistance evaluation. Presented information is addressed to both breeders and Polish inspec-tion services.

Keywords:

golden nematodes, potato cyst nematodes (PCN), methods, resistance sources