<i>In-Vitro</i> Evaluation of Resistance to Late Blight (<i>Phytophthora infestans</i> Mont. De Bary.) in Solanum Accessions Native to Chile, by Inoculation of Detached Leaflets

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the resistance of 10 accessions to P. infestans, by in-vitro inoculation of detached leaflets with a complex isolation of the fungus. Late blight, caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans Mont. De Bary, is one of the most important diseases of the potato crop, and can destroy complete plantations in a short space of time. Chile is considered as a sub-centre of the origin of cultivated potatoes with many native potato varieties in the country. The different resistance components demonstrated that within the material of Chilean native Solanum, there was a wide range of variation to late blight. The resistant control (R-8906384) and the accessions UCT-34-Cor presented the lowest infection efficiency, small sizes of the lesions and low levels of sporulation classifying them as the most resistant. This suggests low efficiency of the infection and high resistance to penetration in these materials. The more susceptible accessions often presented a good level of resistance for one or few components. It would be of great interest to go into the genetic control of the different resistance components to know if the same level of resistance expressed for a component by different accessions is under the same genetic control or not.