Identification of tetraploid potato clones with good processing quality among genotypes with reduced zebra chip disease symptomatology

Authors: VIGUE, SAMUEL - Texas A&M University; SCHEURING, DOUGLAS - Texas A&M University; KOYM, JEFFREY - Texas A&M Agrilife; RUSH, CHARLES - Texas A&M Agrilife; TAMBORINDEGUY, CECILIA - Texas A&M University; MILLER, J. CREIGHTON - Texas A&M University; DOUCHES, DAVE - Michigan State University; Novy, Richard - Rich; VALES, M. ISABEL - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2020
Publication Date: 10/23/2020
Citation: Vigue, S.J., Scheuring, D.C., Koym, J.W., Rush, C.M., Tamborindeguy, C., Miller, J., Douches, D.S., Novy, R.G., Vales, M. 2020. Identification of tetraploid potato clones with good processing quality among genotypes with reduced zebra chip disease symptomatology. American Journal of Potato Research. 97:565-579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-020-09804-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-020-09804-1

Interpretive Summary: Zebra chip disease of potato is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted by an insect (potato psyllid). The disease can cause significant losses in potato quality and yield. Identification of potatoes having resistance or tolerance to the disease would aid in reducing the impact of this disease. Potato clones from US potato breeding programs were screened for response to zebra chip disease in greenhouse and field evaluations in Texas with tuber symptoms and chipping quality evaluated in the clones from zebra chip infected and non-infected plants. Potato breeding clones from families A07781 and TX12484 consistently showed zebra chip tolerance and good processing qualities over multiple screenings. Identified clones could be used in potato breeding programs for incorporation of zebra chip disease into potato varieties to help in control of the disease.

Technical Abstract: Zebra chip (ZC) disease caused by the bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) and vectored by the potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Šulc.) inflicts significant yield and quality losses in potato. Potato plants infected with Lso produce tubers with an internal brown stripe pattern that is unacceptable to the potato processing industry. Potato varieties tolerant of ZC disease could reduce yield and quality losses caused by the disease, as well as diminish insecticide usage to control potato psyllids. Tetraploid potato clones selected from breeding programs in the US were screened in Texas under both greenhouse and field conditions. Chipping quality in tubers harvested from plants infested with Lso-infected psyllids and those harvested from from non-infested plants were compared, and tuber symptoms associated with ZC disease were evaluated. Clones showing good chipping quality and promising ZC tolerance in the greenhouse and first field trials were independently tested in a second field trial. Clones of the A07781 and TX12484 families consistently showed good processing quality and ZC tolerance over multiple evaluations. These findings indicate that good processing clones with tolerance to ZC disease are available. These clones could be used by potato breeding programs as parents and could also be used to study the genetics of tolerance to ZC disease.