ARS | Publication request: Molecular Characterization of Potato Disease Resistance Genes

Submitted to: Potato Association of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 4, 2008
Publication Date: August 11, 2008
Citation: Halterman, D.A., Liu, Z., Chen, Y., Stephenson, S.A. 2008. Molecular Characterization of Potato Disease Resistance Genes [abstract]. Potato Association of America Proceedings. p. 11.

Technical Abstract: A key long-term management strategy for combating potato diseases is to develop cultivars with high levels of resistance through identification and integration of major resistance (R) genes. This talk will summarize our results of cloning and characterizing major late blight and Verticillium wilt R genes from potato germplasm using a candidate gene approach. The RB gene, previously cloned from the Mexican diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum, confers broad-spectrum resistance to potato late blight. We have isolated candidate RB orthologs from several wild potato species and have tested their function in a transient resistance assay. We have used a similar approach to identify and clone a putative ortholog of the tomato Verticillium wilt R gene Ve from both resistant and susceptible interspecific potato hybrids. The potential use of these sequences in marker development and molecular characterization of R proteins will be discussed.