Insect-trapping Hairs on Potato Plants

Abstract

The ability of glandular hairs on the foliage of the wild potato species Solanum polyadenium and S. berthaultii to trap mite and insect pests is illustrated by scanning electron micrographs. Both potato species have hairs with four-lobed heads which release a sticky substance when ruptured. On S. polyadenium these hairs trapped aphids, Colorado beetle larvae and a leafhopper Javasella pellucida. S. berthaultii also has hairs with a sticky droplet at their tips; these hairs trapped such small pests as spider mites, thrips and larval mealybugs. Adult whitefly were not trapped because a powdery wax from the whiteflies coated the hairs. It is suggested that these glandular hairs could help protect potato crops by trapping many foliage pests, including disease vectors.     

Identification of a CAPS marker tightly linked to the Tomato yellow leaf curl disease resistance gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty-1</Emphasis> in tomato

During the process of breeding programmes, several resistance genes have been introgressed into tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars from different wild tomato relatives. A number of these resistance genes have been mapped to chromosome 6. Among them, Ty-1 and Mi, which confer resistance to Tomato yellow leaf curl disease and to Meloidogyne spp., respectively, are in most cases incorporated in commercial hybrids. Several molecular markers tightly linked to Mi have been identified. This study was conducted in order to find an informative molecular marker linked to Ty-1. Six markers mapped in the same region as Ty-1 were analysed in plant material carrying different combinations of Ty-1 and Mi alleles. Three of the six markers revealed polymorphism among the assayed accessions. One allele of JB-1 marker showed association with Ty-1. Furthermore, the presence of Mi did not interfere with the results. The analysis of several accessions of wild tomato relatives with the three polymorphic markers allowed the establishment of the origin of the alleles found in cultivated plant material, showing that introgressions from S. lycopersicum, S. pimpinellifolium and S. habrochaites will not interfere with the results of this marker which tags Ty-1. Furthermore this analysis enabled the location of CT21, the RFLP marker from which JB-1 was designed.     

Towards the isolation of resistance genes by transposon targeting in potato

A general strategy for the isolation of disease resistance genes is presented, employing a two-step approach of transposon targeting near genes of interest followed by transposon tagging. A library of transposon (Ac/Ds) transformants in a self fertile potato diploid are being mapped by deriving genomic DNA probes flanking the transposon containing T-DNA insertions with the inverse polymerase chain reaction and using these probes for RFLP analysis. We have produced a large number of transposon (Ac/Ds) transformants in a self fertile potato diploid. Genomic DNA probes, flanking the transposon containing T-DNA insertions, are produced by the inverse polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) and mapped by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in a segragating potato location. A transposon mapped close to a resistance gene can be recombined cis to the gene and used for efficient transposon targeting due to preferential transposition to linked sites.     

QTLs for potato tuber resistance to Dickeya solani are located on chromosomes II and IV

The goal of this research was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for potato tuber resistance to the soil- and seedborne bacterium Dickeya solani and for tuber starch content, to study the relationship between these traits. A resistant diploid hybrid of potato, DG 00-270, was crossed with a susceptible hybrid, DG 08-305, to generate the F₁ mapping population. Tubers that were wound-inoculated with bacteria were evaluated for disease severity, expressed as the mean weight of rotted tubers, and disease incidence, measured as the proportion of rotten tubers. Diversity array technology (DArTseq) was used for genetic map construction and QTL analysis. The most prominent QTLs for disease severity and incidence were identified in overlapping regions on potato chromosome IV and explained 22.4% and 22.9% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The second QTL for disease severity was mapped to chromosome II and explained 16.5% of the variance. QTLs for starch content were detected on chromosomes III, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, and XII in regions different from the QTLs for soft rot resistance. Two strong and reproducible QTLs for resistance to D. solani on potato chromosomes IV and II might be useful for further study of candidate genes and marker development in potato breeding programmes. The relationship between tuber resistance to bacteria and the starch content in potato tubers was not confirmed by QTL mapping, which makes the selection of genotypes highly resistant to soft rot with a desirable starch content feasible.     

四倍体马铃薯SSR遗传图谱的构建及晚疫病抗性QTL初步定位

利用四倍体马铃薯栽培种‘大西洋'和‘陇薯6号'杂交得到的190个F_1株系为作图群体,构建了四倍体马铃薯的分子遗传图谱,采用区间作图法对马铃薯晚疫病抗性进行了QTL初步定位。结果显示:通过对190个F_1株系进行检测,共发现有7个与晚疫病抗性相关的QTL位点,分别分布在第5、6、7、10和11连锁群上;各位点的LOD值在2.70~10.32之间,其中主效QTL位点3个(LOD≥3.5),可解释17.37%~65.68%的表型变异。获得紧密连锁的特异标记(S183-210、S148-460)为进一步进行QTL精确定位提供了参考。     

Host Specialization not Detected Among Isolates of the EC-1 Lineage of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> Attacking Wild and Cultivated Potatoes in Peru

To determine whether populations of Phytophthora infestans attacking wild and cultivated potatoes in the highlands of Peru are specialized on their hosts of origin, we characterized isolates using several neutral markers, metalaxyl resistance and for aggressiveness in a detached leaf assay. One hundred and fifty-three isolates were collected from the northern and central highlands of Peru from different potato cultivars (both modern and native cultivars) and from different species of wild, tuber-bearing potatoes. All the isolates analyzed belonged to one of four clonal lineages that had been described previously in Peru: EC-1, US-1, PE-3 and PE-7. The EC-1 lineage (n = 133) was dominant and present in similar frequencies on wild and cultivated potatoes. PE-3 (n = 14) was found primarily on cultivated potatoes, with only one isolate coming from a wild host. US-1 (n = 2) and PE-7 (n = 4) were rare; all but one (PE-7) occurred on wild potatoes. Isolates from the EC-1 lineage from modern cultivars were compared in three separate detached leaf inoculation assays with EC-1 isolates from the wild potato species S. sogarandinum, S. bill-hookerii or S. huancabambense, respectively. No significant interactions between isolate type (from wild or cultivated potato) and host type (wild or cultivated) were measured for any assay. It appears that the pathogen genotypes in the EC-1 lineage indiscriminately attack both wild and cultivated tuber-bearing solanaceous hosts in Peru, and breeders should be able to select for resistance using the common EC-1 lineage.     

抗稻瘿蚊品种多抗1的抗性遗传分析及抗性基因定位

稻瘿蚊是亚洲稻区主要害虫,采用抗虫品种进行防治是最理想的方法。1993～1995年,广东省农科院与国际水稻研究所有关专家紧密合作,对能抗华南4个稻瘿蚊生物型的品种多抗1作进一步抗性遗传分析,确认多抗1对中国稻瘿蚊生物型1和4的抗性受显性单基因控制,这个基因暂定名为GM—6(t)。以多抗1×丰银占1组合的F3代160个家系作基因标记,据DNA库分离个体分析(BSA)原理,用随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)标记物OPM6(1.4kb),首次成功地标记了这个抗性基因。随后多态性扩增产物经~(32)p标记,用作探针,检测另一个参考作图群体IR64×Azucena,将这个抗性基因定位在水稻第4条染色体上,位于RG214和RG163两个DNA限制性片段长度多态性(RFLP)标记之间。应用这些分子标记辅助选择有可能不必通过稻瘿蚊的直接筛选,快速准确地选育抗稻瘿蚊品种或进行抗性基因累加。     

Genetic Structure of the Population of Phytophthora infestans Attacking Solanum ochranthum in the Highlands of Ecuador

Thirty-nine isolates of Phytophthora infestans were collected from the wild host Solanum ochranthum in the highland tropics of Ecuador and characterized with a set of phenotypic and molecular markers (mating type, metalaxyl sensitivity, the allozyme loci Gpi, and Pep, mitochondrial DNA haplotype, RFLP, and SSR), as well as for pathogenicity on various hosts. Three groups of isolates (A, B, and C) were identified based on their multilocus genotypes and variable abilities to cause disease on different hosts. Group A had a combination of alleles for the Gpi (86/100), Pep (96/100) and mtDNA (Ia) loci, as well as an RFLP fingerprint, that have not been reported for P. infestans in Ecuador, or elsewhere. Group B shares many marker characteristics with the US-1 lineage described in Ecuador on tomato, pear melon (S. muricatum), and S. caripense, but has SSR alleles not present in typical US-1 isolates. Group C for all markers tested is identical to the EC-1 lineage described on cultivated and wild potatoes in Ecuador. All isolates from S. ochranthum were able to re-infect their host of origin in the detached leaf assay; however, we did not draw clear conclusions as to the relative aggressiveness of the three groups on this host. Isolates of group A were the most specialized and were generally non-pathogenic or weakly pathogenic on all hosts other than S. ochranthum. Groups B and C infected tuber-bearing hosts, including the cultivated potato but were generally non-pathogenic on other non-tuber bearing hosts. Solanum ochranthum was infected by isolates coming from tuber-bearing Solanum hosts (i.e., the EC-1 lineage of P. infestans) and some US-1 isolates from non-tuber bearing hosts. Thus, in nature this species might be a potential reservoir of inoculum of different pathogen populations able to infect the cultivated hosts potato, tomato and pear melon (S.␣muricatum). Unlike potato and tomato in Ecuador, each of which is primarily attacked by a highly specialized pathogen population, S. ochranthum appears to harbour at least three pathogen groups of␣different genetic make-up. The unresolved issue of potential host specificity in isolates found on S.␣ochranthum could complicate efforts to use this species in tomato improvement.     

野生甘蓝表皮毛对菜青虫的抗性机理

为明确一种全身覆盖表皮毛的野生甘蓝Brassica incana（编号C01）是否具有抗虫性,通过测定菜青虫Pieris rapae对野生甘蓝C01和无毛甘蓝B. alboglabra（编号C41）的拒食、取食和产卵行为进行抗虫性分析,同时通过测定两者的内源激素含量、表皮毛发育相关基因表达量和防御酶活性探讨野生甘蓝C01对菜青虫的抗性机理。结果显示,生长至8～10叶期,无毛甘蓝C41叶片被菜青虫啃食严重,但野生甘蓝C01叶片未被啃食;菜青虫对无毛甘蓝C41和剪除表皮毛的野生甘蓝C01叶片取食面积差异不显著,但均显著大于对野生甘蓝C01叶片的取食面积;着卵的无毛甘蓝C41植株显著多于野生甘蓝C01。野生甘蓝C01叶片中茉莉酸和茉莉酸甲酯含量都显著高于无毛甘蓝C41叶片,而两者中水杨酸和水杨酸甲酯的含量差异不显著。BolJAZ1基因在无毛甘蓝C41叶片中高表达,而BolGL3和BolGL2基因在野生甘蓝C01叶片中高表达;且野生甘蓝C01叶片中多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶和苯丙氨酸解氨酶3种防御酶的活性均显著高于无毛甘蓝C41。表明野生甘蓝C01叶片的表皮毛会影响菜粉蝶产卵,对菜青虫表现出显著抗...     

Partial stem and leaf resistance against the fungal pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botrytis cinerea</Emphasis> in wild relatives of tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of many greenhouse crops that can be infected by the necrotrophic ascomycete Botrytis cinerea. Commercial cultivation of tomato is hampered by the lack of resistance. Quantitative resistance has been reported in wild tomato relatives, mostly based on leaf assays. We aimed to identify wild tomato relatives with resistance to B. cinerea based on quantitative assays both on leaves and stem segments, monitoring infection frequency and disease expansion rate as parameters. A quantitative tomato stem segment assay was developed. This stem assay and a previously described leaf assay were used to screen a collection of 22 Solanum accessions. Significant differences in disease parameters were observed among accessions. Resistance to B. cinerea was observed in a number of wild Solanum species, including accessions of S. chilense, S. habrochaites and S. neorickii, both in the leaf assay and the stem segment assay. A number of resistant and susceptible accessions were evaluated as adult plants under greenhouse conditions. The data obtained in greenhouse assays confirmed the leaf and stem disease data. The expression of several defence-related genes was studied in a subset of accessions. There was no apparent correlation between the expression levels of the genes tested and the quantitative resistance level to B. cinerea. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

A major quantitative trait locus for rice yellow mottle virus resistance maps to a cluster of blast resistance genes on chromosome 12

ABSTRACT Two doubled-haploid rice populations, IR64/Azucena and IRAT177/ Apura, were used to identify markers linked to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) resistance using core restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) maps. Resistance was measured by mechanical inoculation of 19-day-old seedlings followed by assessment of virus content by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests 15 days after inoculation. IR64/Azucena and IRAT177/Apura populations, 72 and 43 lines, respectively, were evaluated, and resistance was found to be polygenic. Resistance was expressed as a slower virus multiplication, low symptom expression, and limited yield loss when assessed at the field level. Bulked segregant analysis using the IR64/Azucena population identified a single random amplified polymorphic DNA marker that mapped on chromosome 12 and corresponded to a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) evidenced by interval mapping. When pooling RFLP data, integrated mapping of this chromosome revealed that the QTL was common to the two populations and corresponded to a small chromosomal segment known to contain a cluster of major blast resistance genes. This region of the genome also reflected the differentiation observed at the RFLP level between the subspecies indica and japonica of Oryza sativa. This is consistent with the observation that most sources of RYMV resistance used in rice breeding are found in upland rice varieties that typically belong to the japonica subspecies.     

Identification and characterization of RB-orthologous genes from the late blight resistant wild potato species Solanum verrucosum

Late blight, caused by the oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, is a devastating disease of potatoes and tomatoes. A key long-term management strategy for combating this disease is to develop potato cultivars with high levels of durable resistance through identification and integration of major resistance genes. The RBgene, cloned from the Mexican diploid potato species Solanum bulbocastanum, confers broad-spectrum resistance to potato late blight. Here, we have determined the late blight resistance phenotypes of eight accessions of Solanum verrucosum, another wild diploid potato species, using greenhouse inoculations and discovered variability among the accessions. While most accessions were resistant, one accession was notably more susceptible. Transcribed orthologs of the RB gene from the eight S. verrucosum accessions were cloned using a homology-based PCR approach. Sequence analysis revealed that the RB^ver orthologs share up to 83.5% nucleotide identity with RB^blb. Stable introduction of the RB ortholog from late blight resistant S. verrucosum PI275260 into susceptible S. tuberosum confers resistance to P. infestans. Interestingly, this functional RB^ver ortholog contains an insertion of a complete leucine rich repeat when compared to RB^blb, and differs from the RB^ver ortholog from a susceptible accession at only four amino acid residues.     

水稻抗穗瘟基因的分子定位

 本试验以中156和谷梅2号为亲本建立F₈重组自交系群体,应用稻瘟病菌株92-183对群体的叶瘟和穗瘟抗性表现进行了分析。结果表明,叶瘟和穗瘟抗性遗传控制机制存在明显差异。应用DNA标记将一个兼抗叶瘟和穗瘟的基因定位于水稻第6染色体,其抗性等位基因来源于谷梅2号。而且,该基因在病区表现出较强的效应。     

Association mapping of quantitative resistance to Phaeosphaeria nodorum in spring wheat landraces from the USDA National Small Grains Collection

Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), caused by Phaeosphaeria nodorum, is a destructive disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) found throughout the United States. Host resistance is the only economically feasible option for managing the disease; however, few SNB-resistant wheat cultivars are known to exist. In this study, we report findings from an association mapping (AM) of resistance to P. nodorum in 567 spring wheat landraces of diverse geographic origin. The accessions were evaluated for seedling resistance to P. nodorum in a greenhouse. Phenotypic data and 625 polymorphic diversity array technology (DArT) markers have been used for linkage disequilibrium (LD) and association analyses. The results showed that seven DArT markers on five chromosomes (2D, 3B, 5B, 6A, and 7A) were significantly associated with resistance to P. nodorum. Genetic regions on 2D, 3B, and 5B correspond to previously mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring resistance to P. nodorum whereas the remaining QTL appeared to be novel. These results demonstrate that the use of AM is an effective method for identifying new genomic regions associated with resistance to P. nodorum in spring wheat landraces. Additionally, the novel resistance found in this study could be useful in wheat breeding aimed at controlling SNB.     

Taxonomic characterization of Pyricularia isolates from green foxtail and giant foxtail, wild foxtails in Japan

Twenty-eight Pyricularia isolates from two wild foxtails—green foxtail (Setaria viridis) and giant foxtail (S. faberii)—in Japan were taxonomically characterized by DNA analyses, mating tests, and pathogenicity assays. Although most of the isolates failed to produce perithecia in mating tests with Magnaporthe oryzae, a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism phenotype of M. oryzae was detected in the beta-tubulin genomic region in all isolates. The pathogenicity assays revealed that host ranges of the isolates were similar to those of isolates from foxtail millet (S. italica), which were exclusively pathogenic on foxtail millet. In addition to the 28 isolates from wild foxtails, 22 Pyricularia isolates from 11 other grasses were analyzed by RFLP using single-copy sequences as probes. In a dendrogram constructed from the RFLP data, isolates that were previously identified as M. oryzae formed a single cluster. All the wild foxtail isolates formed a subcluster with foxtail millet isolates within the M. oryzae cluster. From these results, we conclude that Pyricularia isolates from the wild foxtails are closely related to isolates from foxtail millet and should be classified into the Setaria pathotype of M. oryzae.     

New genes for disease resistances through somatic hybridization

Somatic hybridization, a process of combining protoplasts from different plants, can provide new sources of disease resistances for plants. In the case of wild and cultivatedSolanum species, the hybrids express resistances from each partner in the fusion and can often be crossed with cultivars to improve agronomic characteristics of the tubers. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses can provide a means for determining that the plants being investigated are actually hybrids as well as a means for following the introgression of DNA into progeny lines. These points are addressed in this paper with specific reference to somatic hybrids betweenSolanum brevidens and potato.     

Cross-resistance relationships between benzimidazole fungicides and diethofencarb in Botrytis cinerea and their genetical basis in Ustilago maydis

After nitrosoguanidine- or UV-mutagenesis, three different benzimidazole-resistant phenotypes were isolated on media containing benomyl or a mixture of carbendazim and diethofencarb from wild-type strains of Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. and Ustilago maydis (D.C.) Corda. Mutants of B. cinerea with moderate (MBr) or low (LBr) resistance to benzimidazoles and high resistance to diethofencarb (Dr) were isolated from the fungicide-mixture-containing medium in low frequency (7–1 × 10^?8). Only benzimidazole-resistant strains highly sensitive to diethofencarb (HBrDs) were identified on benomyl-containing medium at a frequency of 6.6 × 10^?6. Fitness-determining characteristics such as sporulation, germination and germ-tube elongation, were found to be reduced significantly in the mutants of B. cinerea that were resistant to both benzimidazoles and diethofencarb. However, pathogenicity of a MBrDr mutant strain on cucumber seedlings was equal to that of the wild type and a carbendazim + diethofencarb mixture was found to control grey mould caused by the wild type, but was not effective when the plant cotyledons were infected by the mutant strain. Three benzimidazole-resistant phenotypes (HBrDs, HBrDr, MBrDr) were isolated easily in U. maydis from a benomyl-containing medium. In contrast with B. cinerea, only one-tenth of the benzimidazole-resistant strains were sensitive to diethofencarb. Genetic analysis of benzimidazole resistance in U. maydis showed that the three benzimidazole-resistant phenotypes were due to three allelic mutations in a single gene and one of them was responsible for the negative cross-resistance between benzimidazoles and diethofencarb.     

Identification and fine mapping of the new bacterial blight resistance gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xa31(t)</Emphasis>, in rice

Zhachanglong (ZCL), a regional rice variety from Yunnan province in southwest China, has a high level of resistance to a broad spectrum of Xanthomones oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) isolates. In a previous study, a bacterial blight (BB) resistance (R) gene, Xa22(t), with resistance against Xoo strain Px061 on chromosome 11 was identified in ZCL. Here, we report another BB R-gene, tentatively named Xa31(t), with resistance against Xoo strain OS105 and susceptible to Px061 identified in ZCL. To determine the location of Xa31(t), 102 polymorphic RFLP markers on 12 rice chromosomes were selected for bulked segregation analysis (BSA). Twelve RFLP markers on chromosome 4 detected DNA polymorphisms between ZCL and Zhengzhu Ai (ZZA), as well as in the OS105-resistant and -susceptible bulks from F₂ populations derived from ZCL × ZZA. Genetic linkage analysis and fine mapping localised Xa31(t) within a genetic distance of 0.2 cM between two RFLP markers, G235 and C600, on the end of the long arm of chromosome 4, using two F₂ populations from the cross ZCL × ZZA and two F₃ populations, consisting of 3,311 plants with 301 F₃ random families and 3,333 plants with 303 F₃ Pxo61-susceptible families, derived from the same F₂ populations from the cross ZCL × ZZA. Using two flanking markers, G235 and C600, to screen the MH63 BAC library, the Xa31(t) locus was limited to one BAC clone with a length of about 100 kb.     

Mechanisms of resistance in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycopersicon</Emphasis> germplasm to the whitefly<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia argentifolii</Emphasis>

The silverleaf whiteflyBemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) [also known as strain B of the sweetpotato whiteflyB. tabaci (Gennadius)] is a major pest of tomatoes due to both feeding damage and transmission of plant viruses. Certain wild species ofLycopersicon have demonstrated high levels of resistance to the pest. Greenhouse studies were undertaken to quantify the effects on whitefly behavior and mortality of individual, resistant plants selected from three accessions ofL. pennellii (Corr.) D’Arcy (LA 1340, LA 1674 and LA 2560), five accessions ofL. hirsutum f.typicum Humb. & Bonpl. (LA 386, LA 1353, LA 1777, PI 127826 and PI 127827) and one accession ofL. hirsutum f.glabratum C.H. Mull. (PI 126449). In no-choice experiments, fewer adults settled on leaflets of the wild species and deposited 75–100% fewer eggs compared to the cultivated tomato,L. esculentum Mill. Adult mortality ranged from 77–100% on wild accessions but was only 1% onL. esculentum. Most dead adults were trapped in glandular trichome exudates. The effects of these resistant accessions onB. argentifolii were mechanically transferable by appressing the trichome exudates onto the leaves of the susceptible tomato, indicating an association between the factors mediating the resistance and the glandular trichomes. Laboratory studies evaluated the repellent, fumigant and residual toxic effects of representative constituents of trichome exudates onB. argentifolii adults by using selected concentrations and probit analyses. RC₅₀ values (estimated concentration to repel 50% of the adults) and LC₅₀ values for fumigant and residual toxicity indicated that 2-tridecanone had low levels of repellent and residual toxicity activity; that 2-undecanone had high levels of repellent and fumigant activity; and that ginger oil (composed, in part, of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons) had high levels of repellent and residual toxicity activity. These studies suggest that multi-factor resistance exists in wild tomato germplasm. By combining genetically the observed chemical constituents of resistance into a single germplasm, the resulting resistance may be more difficult forB. argentifolii to overcome. http://www.phytoparasitica.org     

Components of resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in eight South AmericanSolanum species

Four components of partial resistance toPhytophthora infestans were measured after inoculation in the greenhouse and in the field ofSolanum arnezii x hondelmannii, S. berthaultii, S. circaeifolium, S. leptophyes, S. microdontum, S. sparsipilum, S. sucrense andS. vernei, and four hybrid progenies ofS. microdontum withS. tuberosum. The four components were infection efficiency, lesion growth rate, generation time and sporulation capacity. The results were compared with resistance ratings derived from field experiments, and with observations made on the potato cultivars Bintje, Bildstar, Libertas and Pimpernel. Genetic variation for all components was found, while the relative importance of the components of partial resistance appeared to vary between the species. InS. microdontum, generation time, infection efficiency and lesion growth rate, and inS. tuberosum infection efficiency, lesion growth rate and sporulation capacity appeared positively associated, but in other species no such association was found. A strong hypersensitive reaction, the expression of which appeared to depend on environmental conditions, was found inS. microdontum. ForS. berthaultii, infection efficiency appeared to be the main resistance component.Abbreviations ADPC area under the disease progress curve - IE infection efficiency - LGR lesion growth rate - GT generation time - SC sporulation capacity