Quarantine nematode species and pathotypes potentially dangerous for domestic potato production: populations diversity and the genetics of potato resistance

The review considers quarantine species and nematode pathotypes potentially dangerous for domestic potato production. Potatoes are affected by more than 30 types of parasitic nematodes, but the review focuses on the most harmful representatives of genera that cause great damage to potato production: Globodera, Ditylenchus, Nacob bus and Meloidogyne. Phytopathological and molecular methods of identification of species and pathotypes and the main achievements in studying the population variability of parasitic potato nematodes were analyzed. It was shown that due to the peculiarities of the life cycle of nematodes and lability of their genomes, the genetic variability of these organisms is very high, which creates a threat of forming new pathogenic genotypes of the parasites. The information about the intra- and interpopulation variability of nematodes is important for studying the ways of introduction and distribution of separate species, as well as for searching for the correlations of molecular markers with the pathotype. Phylogenetic studies based on modern data on genetic variability of populations have allowed to reveal species complexes in Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens and Nacobbus aberrans (Thorne) Thorne & Allen (sensu lato), including cryptic species. The main components of successful protection preventing a wide distribution of parasitic nematodes are quarantine measures, agricultural techniques, biological methods of protection and cultivation of resistant cultivars. Special attention in the review is paid to the breeding of potato cultivars with durable resistance to various nematode pathotypes, because the cultivation of such varieties is the most ecologically safe and economically advantageous way to prevent epiphytoties. Currently, significant progress has been made in the genetic protection of potato cultivars, especially against cyst-forming nematodes. The review provides data on sources of potato resistance to parasitic nematodes identified in collections of wild and cultivated species. Data on identified R-gens and QTL of resistance that have been introduced into breeding varieties using different methods and approaches are analyzed. The literature data on the study of structural and functional organization of genes for resistance to potato cyst nematodes are given. The results of molecular research on revealing the polymorphisms of loci involved in the control of resistance to cyst and gall nematodes, the development of molecular markers of certain genes and their use in marker-assisted selection for developing of new resistant cultivars, including those with group resistance, are considered

Resistance to causal agents of late blight and golden potato nematode of the modern cultivars of seed potatoes and their phytosanitary status in various agroclimatic zones of the European part of Russia

The active expansion of foreign potato cultivars on the territory of the Russian Federation has led to a change in the dominant pathogen species and to the emergence of new pathotypes of causal agents of harmful potato diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate resistance to Phytophthora infestans and Globodera rostochiensis of modern potato cultivars and determine the distribution of fungal and oomycetic diseases on potato cultivars in various agroclimatic zones of Russia. The resistance of 41 foreign cultivars was evaluated to pathotype Ro1 G. rostochiensis and to isolate VZR17 P. infestans with virulence genes 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11. Resistant to G. rostochiensis were 38 cultivars. 57R marker of the H1 gene conferring resistance to the Ro1 pathotype of G. rostochiensis was detected in 96.6 % of the nematode resistant cultivars studied; susceptible varieties did not possess this marker. Absolute resistance to the causative agent of late blight was demonstrated by the cultivars Alouette and Sarpo Mira (score 9); high levels of resistance (score 6 and 7) were determined for the cultivars Evolution, Red Fantasy and Ricarda. The cultivars Baltic Rose, Damaris, Desiree, Gala, Labella, Laperla, Mia, Sanibel, Zekura, Queen Anne, Red Lady and ‘7 for 7’ were classified as susceptible, although the characteristics of originators indicated average resistance to late blight. A phytopathological test was conducted on 92 samples of 39 varieties of seed potatoes from four federal districts of the Russian Federation: Volga, NorthWest, Central and North Caucasus. Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp. and Helminthosporium solani are most common on all varieties. 100 % defeat of tubers by H. solani was recorded in various regions on the cultivars Red Scarlett, Evolution, Labella, Colombo, Gala and Nevsky. Widespread Colletotrichum coccodes on tubers of the elite and 2nd reproductions of the potato cultivar Red Scarlett (50.0–71.4 %) was recorded in the Central District

Transmission of potato spindle tuber viroid between <i>Phytophthora infestans</i> and host plants

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a naked, circular, single-stranded RNA (356–363 nucleotides in length) which lacks any protein-coding sequences. It is an economically important pathogen and is classified as a high-risk plant quarantine disease. Moreover, it is known that PSTVd is mechanically transmitted by vegetative plant propagation through infected pollen, and by aphids. The aim of this study is to determine the possibility of viroid transmission by potato pathogen Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. PSTVd-infected (strain VP87) potato cultivars Gala, Colomba, and Riviera were inoculated with P. infestans isolate PiVZR18, and in 7 days, after the appearance of symptoms, re-isolation of P. infestans on rye agar was conducted. RT-PCR diagnostics of PSTVd in a mixture of mycelia and sporangia were positive after 14 days of cultivation on rye agar. The PSTVd-infected P. infestans isolate PiVZR18v+ was used to inoculate the healthy, viroid-free plants of potato cv. Gala and tomato cv. Zagadka. After 60 days, an amplification fragment of PSTVd was detected in the tissues of one plant of tomato cv. Zagadka by RT-PCR with the primer set P3/P4, indicating successful transmission of PSTVd by P. infestans isolate PiVZR18v+. This result was confirmed by sequencing of the RT-PCR amplicon with primers P3/P4. The partial sequence of this amplicon was identical (99.5 %) to PSTVd strain VP87. RT-PCR showed the possibility of viroid stability in a pure culture of P. infestans isolate PiVZR18v+ after three consecutive passages on rye agar. PSTVd was not detected after the eighth passage on rye agar in P. infestans subculture. These results are initial evidence of potato viroid PSTVd being bidirectionally transferred between P. infestans and host plants

Potato resistance to quarantine diseases

The casual agent of potato wart Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc. and potato golden nematode (PGN) Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber) Behrens are the quarantine species causing the most widespread and destructive diseases of potato in the Russian Federation and other countries of the world. The potato pale nematode Globodera pallida (Stone) Behrens is not found in Russia, although in the European Union it is found everywhere. The review provides information on the harmfulness of S. endobioticum and PGN. To date, 43 pathotypes of S. endobioticum and 5 pathotypes of PGN have been revealed in the world. In the Russian Federation, only the first (D1) pathotype of potato wart and pathotype Ro1 of PGN have been found. Modern sets of differentials for S. endobioticum and PGN and methods of pathotype composition determination, including efforts to develop molecular markers (SSR) to determine the race of S. endobioticum, are presented. Data on the resistance of commercial potato cultivars to these quarantine diseases and methods for resistance determination are reviewed. Modern data on the genetics of potato resistance to S. endobioticum, G. rostochiensis and G. pallida, including mapping and cloning of R-genes, are presented. Available literature data on molecular markers of R-genes for marker assisted selection and the evaluation of their effectiveness are presented. The use of multiplex systems allows the presence of several genes for resistance to one or more pathogens to be analyzed at once. Mechanisms of potato quantitative resistance to S. endobioticum and PGN and adaptation processes in pathogens populations resulting in overcoming resistance of host are discussed. Cultivation of cultivars poorly susceptible to PGN can stimulate the adaptive variability of the pathogen and induce virulent pathotypes for 2–3 pathogen generations

Wild relatives and interspecific hybrids of potato as source materials in breeding for resistance to golden nematode

Background. Predominant use of the H1 and Gro1-4 genes of resistance to golden nematode (PGN) in potato breeding requires widening the gene pool of resistance to this pathogen.Materials and methods. Thirty-four genotypes of wild potatoes from North and South Americas, 14 interspecific hybrids, and 10 Russian potato cultivars were studied for PGN resistance. Screening for resistance to PGN pathotype Ro1 and molecular screening for the presence of H1 and Gro1-4 gene markers were performed. Amplification products of the Gro1-4 gene marker were sequenced.Results. Only seven among the studied 34 potato genotypes (two of S. brachystotrichum (Bitt.) Rydb., four of S. lesteri Hawkes et Hjerting, and one of S. kurtzianum Bitt. et Wittm.) were susceptible to PGN, while the rest demonstrated high or medium resistance. Molecular screening for the presence of H1 and Gro1-4 gene markers allowed us to identify Gro1-4 in 13 South American genotypes of S. alandiae Cárd., S. × doddsii Corr., S. kurtzianum, S. leptophyes Bitt., and S. yungasense Hawkes. The remaining 14 genotypes may supposedly contain resistance genes non-identical to H1 or Gro1-4. Hybrids of S. tuberosum L. with medium-resistant wild accessions of S. kurtzianum, S. leptophyes, S. sparsipilum (Bitt.) Juz. et Buk., S. alandiae, and S. × doddsii inherited PGN resistance determined either by the Gro1-4 gene or genes non-identical to H1 or Gro1-4. Sequencing a fragment of the Gro1-4 gene showed that changes in the structure of this fragment in orthologous genes did not affect the feature of resistance to PGN pathotype Ro1.Conclusion. For the first time, sources of resistance to PGN were found among the North American species S. brachystotrichum (k-23201) and S. lesteri (k-24475). Among the wild South American Solanum spp., sources of resistance determined by genes different from H1 or Gro1-4 were identified. Resistant interspecific hybrids can serve as donors of the Gro1-4 resistance gene or new resistance genes

<i>Solanum nigrum</i> L. is a potato spindle tuber viroid reservoir

Background. Among the weeds of the Solanaceae family, a potential viroid infection reservoir, black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), is ubiquitous in Russia.Materials and methods. Molecular diagnostics of the viroid was performed using RT-PCR with the P3/P4 primers specific for PSTVd and 6Pospi F/R specific for the Pospiviroidae family of viroids. The amplification products were cloned and sequenced, and the nucleotide sequences were deposited in the GenBank database.Results. RT-PCR showed that 80–100% of plants were infected with PSTVd. The cDNA amplicons of two plants from Nizhny Novgorod (Sn1 and Sn2) and one plant from Tula Province (Sn3) were cloned (3 clones each) and sequenced. An analysis of the nucleotide variability in the clones revealed significant genetic differences between the PSTVd strains, independent of the geographical origin. Mutations U120C and U192C, compared with the reference strain VP35 (LC523658), were found in all 9 clones. The Sn1 isolate was close to the “potato” VP35 isolate and differed from it only by three mutations. The Sn2 isolate was represented by three identical clones and differed from VP35 by nine mutations, while Sn3 had 22 mutations in the region of 49–310 nucleotide positions in total for three clones. After artificial infection of healthy S. nigrum plants in a greenhouse, the presence of PSTVd in infected plants was confirmed and it was proved that the viroid was transmitted by seeds to plants of the next generation.Conclusion. For the first time in externally healthy plants of S. nigrum, widely distributed in the potato fields of Russia (Nizhny Novgorod and Tula Province), the potato spindle tuber viroid, PSTVd, was detected. It was proved that the viroid was preserved in the seeds of S. nigrum and transmitted to their progeny. Genetic heterogeneity of PSTVd strains from S. nigrum plants was found. Two mutations, U120C and U192C, were common for all tested clones of PSTVd strains

Phenotypic and DNA Marker-Assisted Characterization of Russian Potato Cultivars for Resistance to Potato Cyst Nematodes

Potato is one of the most important food crops in the world and also in the Russian Federation. Among harmful organisms reducing potato yield potential, the potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are considered to be ones of the most damaging pests. Information on PCN resistant cultivars is important for potato breeding and production. Russian potato cultivars are characterized in the state-bio-test program for resistance to only one PCN species Globodera rostochiensis and one pathotype Ro1 which is reported to be present in the country. This study aimed to find domestic cultivars with multiple resistances to different PCN species and different pathotypes using phenotyping coupled with molecular marker analysis due to the risk of the occasional introduction of new pests. The phenotypic response was determined by the inoculation of plants with pathotypes Ro5 of G. rostochiensis and Pa3 of G. pallida. The obtained results were supplemented by the state-bio-test data on resistance to Ro1 of G. rostochiensis. Nine of 26 Russian cultivars were resistant both to Ro5 and Ro1 pathotypes and two cultivars possess multiple resistances to both PCN species. Most tested molecular markers associated with the Gpa2, GpaVvrn, GpaVsspl, Grp1 loci showed discrepancies with phenotyping. However, a predictive haplotype and epistatic effect were detected

NLR Genes Related Transcript Sets in Potato Cultivars Bearing Genetic Material of Wild Mexican Solanum Species

The long history of potato breeding includes the numerous introgressions of resistance genes from many wild species of South and Central America as well as from cultivated species into the breeding genepool. Most R genes belong to the NLR family with nucleotide-binding site&ndash;leucine-rich repeat. The aim of this research concerns an evaluation of NLR genes expression in transcriptomes of three potato cultivars (Evraziya, Siverskij, Sudarynya), which combine genetic material from wild and cultivated potato species, and each bears intragenic markers of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 genes conferring broad-range resistance to late blight. The transcriptomes of the cultivars were compared before and 24 h after the Phytophthora infestans inoculation. The induction of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 transcript after 24 h of inoculation was detected in the resistant cultivars Siverskij and Sudarynya but not in susceptible cv. Evraziya. This demonstrates the importance of transcriptomic assay for understanding the results of marker-assisted selection and phenotyping. Interestingly, assembling the transcriptomes de novo and analysis with NLR-parser tool revealed significant fractions of novel NLR genes with no homology to the reference genome from 103 (cv. Siverskij) to 160 (S. stoloniferum, 30514/15). Comparison of novel NLRs demonstrated a relatively small intersection between the genotypes that coincided with their complex pedigrees with several interspecific hybridization events. These novel NLRs may facilitate the discovery of new efficient R genes