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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164936
Title: THE USE OF THE WILD POTATO SPECIES, SOLANUM ETUBEROSUM, IN DEVELOPING VIRUS AND INSECT-RESISTANT POTATO VARIETIES

Author
item Novy, Richard - Rich

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2005
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Breeders of potato are fortunate in that >200 wild relatives of potato exist that can be useful sources of genetic resistances not present in cultivated potato. Solanum etuberosum is unique among wild potato species in having resistances to three major viruses of potato: potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato viruses X (PVX) and Y (PVY); it also exhibits resistance to green peach aphid, a primary insect vector of PLRV and PVY. Barriers to sexual hybridization made S. etuberosum a candidate for somatic hybridization. Somatic hybrids between S. etuberosum and cultivated potato were generated and were found to be female fertile allowing sexual backcrossing to cultivated potato. The desired virus and insect resistances of S. etuberosum were shown to be transmissible to its sexual progeny - important in the continued successful use of S. etuberosum by potato breeders and geneticists.

Technical Abstract: Breeders of potato are fortunate in that >200 wild relatives of potato exist that can be useful sources of genetic resistances not present in cultivated potato. Solanum etuberosum is unique among wild potato species in having resistances to three major viruses of potato: potato leafroll virus (PLRV) and potato viruses X (PVX) and Y (PVY); it also exhibits resistance to green peach aphid, a primary insect vector of PLRV and PVY. Barriers to sexual hybridization made S. etuberosum a candidate for somatic hybridization. Somatic hybrids between S. etuberosum and cultivated potato were generated and were found to be female fertile allowing sexual backcrossing to cultivated potato. The desired virus and insect resistances of S. etuberosum were shown to be transmissible to its sexual progeny - important in the continued successful use of S. etuberosum by potato breeders and geneticists.