ARS | Publication request: Potato Early Dying: Molecular Perspectives on Pathogenicity and Host Resistance

Submitted to: Fruit, Vegetable, and Cereal Science and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: August 30, 2008
Publication Date: January 5, 2009
Citation: Halterman, D.A., Jansky, S.H., Rouse, D. 2009. Potato Early Dying: Molecular Perspectives on Pathogenicity and Host Resistance. Fruit, Vegetable, and Cereal Science and Biotechnology. 3(1):1-5.

Technical Abstract: Potato early dying has not received the reputation of being a particularly devastating disease of potato. However, the interaction between the vascular fungus Verticillium dahliae and the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans to form the early dying complex makes studying this disease very interesting to plant pathologists. The ability of Verticillium spores to survive in the soil for many years, and difficulty in properly treating infected soil and plants makes this one of the most persistent, widespread, and obstinate diseases of this crop. The purpose of this short review is to provide readers with an update on recent research developments relating to our understanding of this disease complex and approaches used to control of potato Verticillium wilt. This review is not meant to be comprehensive, since several excellent review articles with information about the potato early dying complex (Powelson and Rowe 1993, Rowe et al. 1987, Rowe and Powelson 2002) and Verticillium wilts in general (Fradin and Thomma 2006, Pegg and Brady 2002) are already available. Rather, we have chosen to focus on the impact molecular biology has had on our understanding of this disease and how it has provided opportunities for improvement of resistance in potato cultivars. Although various isolates of V. dahliae are important pathogens of multiple plant species, here we will focus mainly on the relationships between Verticillum, P. penetrans, and potato.