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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #125770
Title: INCORPORATING DISEASE RESISTANCE INTO COMMERCIAL POTATO VARIETIES

Author
item Novy, Richard - Rich
item Corsini, Dennis

Submitted to: Annual National Potato Council Seed Seminar
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2000
Publication Date: 12/1/2000
Citation: Novy, R.G., Corsini, D.L. 2000. Incorporating disease resistance into commercial potato varieties. Annual National Potato Council Seed Seminar. pp.30-32. December 2000.

Interpretive Summary: The control of losses to diseases and pests of potato involves the combined use of certified seed, pesticides, cultural and storage management practices that minimize disease, and the use of cultivars with genetic resistance. There are approximately 225 wild relatives that carry genes conferring resistance to the diseases and pests that plague cultivated potato. Many of these genes have been utilized already in the improvement of potato, others are currently being incorporated, and others have yet to be discovered and utilized. For the potato breeder, the challenge is effectively combining disease resistance with the agronomic and processing characteristics necessary for the commercial acceptance of a new cultivar Traditional breeding has been successful in incorporating desirable traits from the wild species into cultivated potato, and will continue to be one of the most economic means of combining agronomic, processing, and disease resistance traits into a commercially-acceptable cultivar. Currently, molecular biology techniques can help remedy a weakness of a released cultivar. Traditional and molecular techniques complement each other well, making this an exciting period in the genetic improvement of potato.

Technical Abstract: The control of losses to diseases and pests of potato involves the combined use of certified seed, pesticides, cultural and storage management practices that minimize disease, and the use of cultivars with genetic resistance. There are approximately 225 wild relatives that carry genes conferring resistance to the diseases and pests that plague cultivated potato. Many of these genes have been utilized already in the improvement of potato, others are currently being incorporated, and others have yet to be discovered and utilized. For the potato breeder, the challenge is effectively combining disease resistance with the agronomic and processing characteristics necessary for the commercial acceptance of a new cultivar Traditional breeding has been successful in incorporating desirable traits from the wild species into cultivated potato, and will continue to be one of the most economic means of combining agronomic, processing, and disease resistance traits into a commercially-acceptable cultivar. Currently, molecular biology techniques can help remedy a weakness of a released cultivar. Traditional and molecular techniques complement each other well, making this an exciting period in the genetic improvement of potato.