Project Number: 5366-21000-026-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 15, 2007
End Date: Jun 30, 2010

Objective:
Develop molecular markers that can be used to construct linkage maps localizing pink rot and leak resistance genes, and determine the heritability of genetic resistance to pink rot and leak diseases of potato.

Approach:
Two potato breeding clones characterized as resistant to pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica) will be screened for the presence of genes previously characterized as conferring resistant to late blight (Phytopthora infestans). The close relatedness of the two pathogens, and the finding that the characterized resistance genes are derived from wild potato species in the pedigree of the two pink rot resistant, breeding clones, led to the hypothesis that resistance to both pathogens might be conferred by the same resistance genes. If this association is found, the characterized resistance genes will be followed in a population segregating for resistance to pink rot to further correlate resistance with presence/absence of genes. An additional population, closely related to a breeding clone having both pink rot and leak resistance, will also be screened for resistance to these two diseases. Data from that screening, along with prior molecular characterization of that population, will be used to ascertain if the wild potato species, Solanum etuberosum, is contributing to resistances for pink rot and leak. Documents SCA with North Dakota State University. Formerly 5366-21000-023-06S 3/2008