Foliar resistance to late blight in potato clones evaluated in national trials in 1997

Changes in the oomycetePhytophthora infestans in the United States and other parts of the world pose a significant threat to potato production. A continual evaluation of potato clones for resistance to late blight is necessary to identify clones with resistance and to monitor the stability of resistance in light of the emergence of new and more aggressive strains of this pathogen. Twentytwo potato clones (10 cultivars and 12 selections) were evaluated in 1997 for late blight resistance at seven U.S. locations. Seven late blight differentials (R₁R₂R₃R₄, R₁R₂R₄, R₁R₃R₄ R₃, R₈ R₁₀, and R_multi) were also included in the test at five of these locations. The US-8 strain of P.infestans was present at all locations. Percent infected foliage was recorded at approximately weekly intervals following the onset of disease. Area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was calculated. The nonparametric stability statistics mean absolute rank differences (S _i ⁽¹⁾ ) and variances of the ranks (S _i ⁽²⁾ ) were used to analyze phenotypic stability. Although neither of these statistics was significant for individual clones, both of these statistics were significant when summed over clones, indicating the importance of genotype × environment interactions on the rankings of these clones across locations. The most late blight-resistant and susceptible clones were the most stable; clones in the intermediate ranges were most subject to rank changes due to genotype × environment interactions. The most late blight-resistant clones were AWN86514-2, B0692-4, B0718-3, and B0767-2. The most susceptible clones were B0811-13, B1004-8, Nor-Donna, and Krantz. AUDPC was very low for the late blight differentials R₈ and R_multi, moderately low for R₁₀ and very high for the remaining differentials. This study is important in characterizing the reaction of potato clones to new strains of P.infestans.     

Recurrent maternal half-sib selection improves resistance to foliar late blight in a diploid hybridSolanum phureja-solanum stenotomum population

Foliar late blight, caused byPhytophthora infestans, is a devastating disease of potatoes worldwide. In 1996 we initiated a breeding strategy to improve the levels of resistance to late blight in a diploid hybrid population ofSolanum phureja-Solanum stenotomum. The purpose of this study was to determine if resistance to late blight in this diploid potato population could be improved by recurrent maternal half-sib selection. Four clones from each of 72 maternal half-sib families were evaluated for late blight resistance in replicated field trials in Pennsylvania in 1996 and 1997 (cycle 1) and in 2003 and 2004 (cycle 2). ‘Atlantic’ was included as a check cultivar at all sites. Percentage of infected foliage was recorded three times towards the end of the growing season each year and was used to compute area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Mean AUDPC for Atlantic in cycle 1 and 2 was 863 and 854, respectively. Mean AUDPC of the cycle 1 and cycle 2 diploid clones was 652 and 556, respectively. Narrowsense heritability for resistance in cycle 1 and cycle 2 was estimated as 0.78 and 0.77, respectively; additive genetic variance was estimated as 10960 and 12636, respectively; phenotypic variance was estimated as 14088 and 16375, respectively. Predicted and realized genetic gain from cycle 1 to cycle 2 was ?80 and ?96, respectively. Recurrent maternal half-sib selection is an effective way to improve resistance to late blight in this population and to maintain adequate genetic diversity for further enhancement efforts.     

Foliar reaction toPhytophthora infestans in inoculated potato field trials in Michigan

Late blight, caused byPhytophthora infestans, is the most important disease of potato worldwide and foliar resistance is an important component of managing late blight in the field. The objective of this research was to identify germplasm for use in breeding cultivars with foliar resistance toP. infestans. More than 500 clones were tested from 1997 to 2002 in inoculated (US8 genotype) field experiments conducted at the Michigan State University Muck Soils Research Farm in Bath, Michigan. All of the current commercial cultivars tested were classified as susceptible toP. infestans. The most resistant clones were A90586-11, AWN86514-2, B0718-3, Jacqueline Lee (MSG274-3), MSI152-A, MSJ307-2, MSJ317-1, MSJ453-4Y, MSJ456-2, MSJ456-4, MSJ461-1, MSK101-2, MSK128-1, NY121, LBR8, LBR9, Tollocan, and Torridon. Some of these resistant selections were from crosses with B0718-3, Jacqueline Lee, and Tollocan suggesting that the resistance toP. infestans was transmissible. These resistant clones will provide the opportunity to breed late-blight-resistant cultivars from a diverse pool of cultivated germplasm. Consistent foliar reaction toP. infestans over years suggested that the Michigan State University Muck Soils Research Farm is a valuable location for North American breeders to assess the reaction of potato germplasm to the US8 genotype of late blight.     

Stability of late blight resistance in population B potato clones

Summary Increased virulence associated with fungicide resistance and variablePhytophthora infestans populations has been recorded in many potato growing regions with enormous economic effects. The current emphasis on disease management in East Africa includes the use of potato varieties with durable resistance to late blight. Seven promising clones from Population B with quantitative resistance (no R-genes), two advanced clones from Population A (with Rgenes) and three control varieties were grown for three cropping seasons in order to determine their reaction and stability of late blight resistance. Late blight occurrence was detected in all cropping seasons. The analysis of variance of disease data (AUDPC) for genotypes, locations x seasons was highly significant (P<0.001) indicating the differential response of the geno-types and the need for stability analysis. The Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) statistical model, showed that the most stable genotypes were 392127.256, 381471.18, 387121.4 (resistant) and 391049.255 (susceptible to late blight). Within environments, the ranking of genotypes was not consistent. The variety Kabale was ranked as the most susceptible genotype while clone 381471.18 and Rutuku were ranked the most resistant. Selective deployment of resistant and stable varieties is critical in minimizing economic loss and damage attributed to late blight in low input farming systems.     

Two Cycles of Recurrent Maternal Half-Sib Selection Reduce Foliar Late Blight in a Diploid Hybrid Solanum phureja-S. stenotomum Population by Two-thirds

Foliar late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is an important disease problem worldwide. Foliar resistance to late blight was found in a hybrid population of the cultivated diploid species Solanum phureja-S. stenotomum (phu-stn). The objective of this study was to determine if resistance to late blight could be improved by recurrent maternal half-sib selection in the phu-stn population. Four clones from each of 72 maternal half-sib families plus the check cultivar ‘Atlantic’ were evaluated for late blight resistance in replicated field trials in Pennsylvania. The most late blight resistant clone from each of the 72 families was randomly intermated to advance the population. The cycle 1, 2, and 3 populations were evaluated in 1996–1997, 2003–2004, and 2009–2010, respectively. Percent infected foliage was recorded several times towards the end of the growing season and used to compute area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Mean AUDPC was 652 (cycle 1), 556 (cycle 2), and 276 (cycle 3), whereas the mean AUDPC of ‘Atlantic’ ranged from 775 to 863 each cycle. Narrow-sense heritability for resistance was estimated as 0.78, 0.77, and 0.80 in cycles 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Recurrent maternal half-sib selection continues to improve the levels of resistance to late blight in this diploid population with no adverse effect on the amount of additive genetic variance. Additional improvements for late blight resistance are likely to occur if this approach is continued.     

Foliar and tuber assessment of late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) reaction in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary Host plant resistance is an important component to the management of potato late blight,Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. Assessment of potato lines (Solanum tuberosum L.) with various levels of resistance toP. infestans (US8, A2 genotype) were evaluated in field trials, greenhouse controlled environment chambers and inoculated tuber reactions. Five lines (AWN86514-2, B0692-4, B0718-3, Jacqueline Lee, and B0288-17) with strong foliar resistance to late blight were identified in these inoculated field trials. Greenhouse controlled environment chamber studies allowed resistant and susceptible lines to be distinguished, but the 1998 greenhouse results did not correlate well with field data. Four lines (A084275-3, Bzura, MSG007-1, and MSG297-4RD) evaluated by a digital image analysis technique demonstrated tuber resistance based upon average reflective index values in the inoculated tuber studies. Tuber resistance did not correlate with field foliar resistance. Based upon these results, field assessment of foliar reaction toP. infestans provides the best measure for assessing late blight resistance in potato. Tuber resistance to late blight can be identified among lines with varying levels of foliar resistance.     

The germplasm release of B0718-3 and B0767-2: Two late blight resistant potato clones

Two potato breeding selections were released by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service on November 14, 1996, as germplasm that is highly resistant to current populations ofPhytophthora infestans (Mont.) deBary, the causal organism of potato late blight: B0718-3 and B0767-2. These two clones have been evaluated for their reaction toP. infestans in replicated plots at Presque Isle, Maine since 1990. B0718-3 is a netted white-skinned selection with good yields but low specific gravity. It is both male and female fertile and crosses readily with tetraploid Tuberosum. B0767-2 is a russet-skinned selection that is low yielding and low in specific gravity. It has not been successfully crossed; however, it may have some potential use in somatic hybridizations. Neither B0718-3 nor B0767-2 process into acceptable colored chips. Genetic material of this release has been deposited in the National Plant Germplasm System where it is available for research purposes, including development and commercialization of new cultivars.     

Tuber Resistance and Slow-Rotting Characteristics of Potato Clones Associated with the Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project to the US-24 Clonal Lineage of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis>

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a devastating disease on potato worldwide and new lineages of the pathogen continue to develop in the U.S. Breeding for resistance is important for economic and environmental purposes. The Solanaceae Coordinated Agricultural Project (SolCAP) focuses on linking allelic variation in genes to valuable traits in elite cultivated potato germplasm. This research assessed the SolCAP diversity panel (206 clones in Washington and 213 clones in Wisconsin) for tuber resistance to the US-24 clonal lineage of P. infestans after potatoes were harvested from fields in Washington and Wisconsin in 2011. This is the first time this germplasm has been evaluated for tuber resistance to P. infestans using a non-intrusive zoospore inoculation technique. Clones with a percent incidence of 30% or less were considered resistant and only eight clones (Palisade Russet, AWN86514–2, MSL268-D, MSM171-A, MSM182–1, MSN230-1RY, Patagonia and Yukon Gem) were characterized as resistant at both locations. These clones have previously demonstrated high to moderate partial foliar resistance to isolates of P.infestans and therefore represent germplasm with both foliar and tuber resistance. Nine clones (AWN86514–2, F66041, MN 18747, MSM 182–1, MSN230-1RY, Modoc, Ama-Rosa, Patagonia and Purple Majesty), were characterized as slow-rotting at both locations with a mean percent internal rot of 75% or less after 33 days of storage. Two clones, MN 18747 and Modoc, are considered to have the highest risk of being a carrier for P. infestans of all the clones evaluated in the SolCAP collection. Not a single clone demonstrated complete tuber resistance to the US-24 strain at both locations.     

Identification of late blight, Colorado potato beetle, and blackleg resistance in three Mexican and two South American wild 2x (1EBN)Solanum species

Wild potatoes are important sources of genes for resistance to disease and insect pests. A collection of wild Mexican and South AmericanSolarium species from the US potato Genebank was evaluated under laboratory and/or field conditions for their reaction to late blight (Phytophthora infestans), Colorado potato beetle (CPB,Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), and blackleg (Erwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica (van Hall) Dye) in order to identify individual genotypes with multiple resistance genes. Late blight inoculations using aggressive isolates (US-8/A2 and US-11/A1 mating types) of P.infestans revealed a wide range of variation for resistance between and within the accessions of the wild species tested. For late blight, susceptible as well as moderately to highly resistant genotypes were observed in all the species tested. However, at least one accession from the three Mexican and one South American wild diploid species tested showed a relatively uniform high level of resistance toP. infestans. These includedS. bulbocastanum, S. pinnatisectum, S. cardiophyllum, andS. circaeifolium. Two accessions from South American speciesS. commersonii were highly susceptible to late blight. For the Colorado potato beetle test, only one species,S. pinnatisectum appeared uniformly resistant to CPB under field conditions. Results of screening for blackleg resistance showed that there were major differences between genotypes in the wild species. Accessions ofS. circaeifolium PI 498119 andS. bulbocastanum PI 243504 were identified as having significantly higher blackleg resistance than cultivated potato and the other wild species tested. However, genotypes from these two accessions were more susceptible to late blight and CPB. Characterization of theP. infestans isolate P1801C.16 used for late blight evaluation and multi-locus isolate tests using US-8/A2 and US-11/A1 races revealed that the resistance inS. pinnatisectum genotypes tested corresponded to a race-non-specific genetic system, which was different from any existing R genes.Solanum pin-natisectum genotypes with both high levels of late blight and CPB resistance as well as blackleg resistance genotypes identified in the present study represent a diverse gene pool that may be useful for development of new potato cultivars with multiple disease and insect resistance. The potential utilization of these valuable sources for improvement of cultivated potato is discussed.     

Partial resistance toPhytophthora infestans in fourSolanum crosses

Thirty progeny from each of fourSolanum crosses were evaluated in the field at Mount Vernon, WA, in 1996 and 1997 for partial resistance toPhytophthora infestans. Of the four parents, three have high levels of partial resistance toP. infestans; one derived from somatic hybridization ofS. bulbocastanum, the other two from traditional breeding efforts for multiple disease resistance. Data were collected from each cross to estimate area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), days to 5% disease severity threshold (DT₅), and sporangia production (SP). All of these variables differed significantly among the progeny within each cross in each year. Correlation analysis indicated that DT₅ was highly correlated with AUDPC for all four populations for both years. Log-transformed SP was significantly (P>0.001) correlated to AUDPC values for one population in both years, but the significance of the correlation was variable between years for the remaining three crosses. The variable DT₅, which is composed of three components (infection efficiency, latent period, and lesion growth rate), was the most important in identifying progeny with partial resistance to late blight in all four crosses in this study.     

The Pathosystem Solanum tuberosum L.-Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in Chapingo,Mexico. Expected,Observed, and Simulated

The 1:1 ratio of the Phytophthora infestans A1 and A2 mating types favors the sexually derived genetic diversity of the late blight pathogen of potatoes, which is widespread in the central highlands of México. This ratio guarantees the successful infection of this pathogen, even in resistant potato hosts. However, wild Solanum species present in the region serve as alternative hosts to the pathogen. Knowledge about the external factors that influence the dynamics of this disease facilitates the assessment and selection for genetically resistant potato cultivars to late blight, in addition to providing the capacity to predict epidemics. This work aimed to assess the expected, observed, and simulated progress of natural P. infestans infection of potatoes during two epiphytotic field seasons (2009 and 2010) at Chapingo, México. Using 8-years of weather datasets, six ideal situations were predicted with four to eight infection cycles of 6 to 12 h each. In comparison to the predictions, the observed effect of the area under the disease progress curve, and its components (AUDPC, RAUDPC, RaRAUDPC), was highly significant, with a low coefficient of variation among the potato cultivars used in the study. In conclusion, we confirm that the LATEBLIGHT-LB2004 model is useful for simulating and predicting late blight epidemics based on the weather conditions of Chapingo, except for the magnitude of the relative humidity threshold variable (RH_threshold), which requires calibration for each cultivar.     

QTL Analysis of Late Blight Resistance in a Diploid Potato Family of Solanum spegazzinii × S. chacoense

Several quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to late blight have been reported in diploid potatoes. The diploid wild potato species Solanum chacoense possesses a high degree of horizontal resistance to late blight. In the present study, we report on QTL mapping for late blight resistance in a diploid mapping population of 126 F₁ of Solanum spegazzinii (susceptible) × S. chacoense (resistant). The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values for late blight resistance using the “whole plant in vitro assay” and the “detached leaf assay” on the mapping population displayed quantitative variation. Out of 64 AFLP primer-pairs combinations and SSR markers, a total of 209 significant AFLP loci were placed onto the 12 linkage group of potato covering a total map length of 6548.1 cM. QTL analysis based on the AUDPC dataset of the “whole plant in vitro assay” using the interval-mapping option identified two QTL (LOD?>?2.5) located on linkage groups IX and X, which explained 14.70 and 3.40% variation, respectively. The present study revealed the presence of potential new genetic loci in the diploid potato family contributing to quantitative resistance against late blight.     

Assessing resistance types and levels to epidemic diseases from the analysis of disease progress curves: Principles and application to potato late blight

Both race-specific (RS) and race-non-specific (RNS) resistances exist in potato against the late blight pathogenPhytophthora infestans. Because these resistance types do not have the same epidemiological effects, their presence, alone or combined, in potato genotypes can be deduced from the analysis of disease progress curves from field experiments, a type of data commonly available to potato breeders, and their comparison with those of standard reference cultivars. The identification of RS resistance is based on the presence of a delay in epidemic onset compared to a susceptible cultivar, whereas the identification of RNS resistance is translated into a reduction of apparent infection rates. These parameters can be easily computed after linearization of the disease progress curves. This paper assesses the reliability of this identification using sets of experimental data, discusses its limitations, and highlights potential applications for breeding and cultivar assessment purposes.     

Resistance to late blight and soft rot in six potato progenies and glycoalkaloid contents in the tubers

Glycoalkaloids are anti-nutritional compounds commonly found in wildSolanum species used as resistance sources to major potato pathogens. It is therefore important for breeding purposes to know whether selecting for resistance using such species necessarily selects also for high glycoalkaloid contents in the tubers. To test this hypothesis, we used six partial progenies from crosses betweenSolanum tuberosum and accessions ofS. andigena, S. berthaultii, S. phureja, andS. vernei to investigate the possible correlation between resistance toPhytophthora infestans and/or toErwinia carotovora subsp.atroseptica and the concentration of glycoalkaloids in tubers. Concentrations of α-solanine and α-chaconine in the tubers segregated in each progeny, as did resistance to each pathogen. Some, but not all, clones from each progeny showed hypersensitive reactions to the isolate ofP. infestans used. Furthermore, clones within each progeny also differed for components of partial resistance toP. infestans, suggesting that all four wild species could be used as sources of both race-specific and partial resistance to late blight. With the exception of low, but statistically significant, correlations between concentration of α-solanine and two late blight resistance components (incubation period and spore production per unit lesion area) in progenies derived fromS. vernei, and despite a trend towards higher glycoalkaloid concentrations in the tubers of the clones most resistant to soft rot within progenies derived fromS. berthaultii andS. vernei, no consistent relationship between resistance to either disease and concentrations of α-solanine and/or α-chaconine was observed. These results indicate that neither race-specific nor partial resistance to late blight and soft rot in the accessions used as progenitors of resistance depend on high solanine or chaconine concentrations. These resistance sources could thus prove useful in breeding programs for improved behaviour againstP. infestans and/orE. carotovora.     

A Study of the relationship of late blight resistance to glycoalkaloid content in fifteen potato clones

Tuber glycoalkaloid (TGA) content, leaf glycoalkaloid (LGA) content, and the level of multigenic resistance to late blight were determined for 15 potato clones. There was no association between the level of blight resistance and the TGA or LGA contents in these clones. However, TGA and LGA contents were highly correlated. The genotypic correlation coefficient between TGA and LGA contents for the 15 clones was 0.82 (SE = 0.115). TGA contents from blight-infected plants were not significantly higher than TGA contents from healthy (fungicide-protected) plants. The results indicate that breeders should be able to select for multigenic late blight resistance withohut increasing TGA contents of clones in their breeding programs.     

Utilization of potato genetic resources in variety development

Potato varieties of Europe, widely grown prior to the late blight epidemic of the 1840s, were apparently derived mainly from ChileanSolanum tuberosum Group (Gp) Tuberosum and with contributions from Gp Andigena. A small number of these old varieties had field resistance and consequently survived the late blight. These survivors, along with a limited number of 19^th and early 20^th century introductions, provided the very narrow genetic base for our modern potato variety development. Beginning in the first half of the 20th century, resistance to diseases and pests from exotic species and primitive relatives was backcrossed into the existing parental stocks, with little improvement in broadening of the genebase. By the 1980s, 77% of European and somewhat fewer North American varieties had genes, derived by backcrossing, fromS. demissum (late blight resistance) and Andigena (resistance to cyst nematode). Broadening of the Tuberosum genebase was undertaken in 1959 by creating long-day adapted Neo-Tuberosum (N-T) from large populations of Andigena. This took six or more cycles of recurrent mass selection. Simmonds, in England, was the first to begin this work, followed shortly after by Plaisted, in the U.S., and Tarn, in Canada. Varieties with N-T in their pedigrees include the New York releases “Rosa”, which is 50% N-T, and “Eva”, 25% N-T. The Tuberosum genebase has also been broadened with diploid Gp Phureja resulting in the releases of “Yukon Gold,”with yellow flesh and high internal quality, and “NorValley,”a chipper with resistance to cold sweetening. Over 5000 accessions of about 150 wild species are available to breeders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Research Support Project 6 (NRSP-6) genebank. Many of these accessions have been evaluated for resistance to diseases and pests as well as other important traits. Six genebanks in other countries also have many accessions for breeders. These seven collections are a great source of valuable traits for breeding, but remain under-utilized, mainly because of the time and additional resources required in eliminating the “wildness”characters associated with the desired traits. “Pre-breeding”is needed to help breeders utilize the many needed genes and alleles in the wild species. There now are two projects with pre-breeding as an objective in the U.S., one at Madison, WI, and the other at Prosser, WA. Resistance to cold sweetening (low sugar build up in cold storage) has been backcrossed from several wild species into the Tuberosum background, as has resistance to late blight, the Columbia rootknot nematode, and the potato leafroll virus (PLRV). Resistance to potato virus Y (PVY) and PLRV obtained from N-T has been incorporated into Tuberosum parental stocks. Durable resistance to late blight in Polish breeding stocks, withS. demissum andS. stoloniferum background, and in improved Bolivian and Peruvian Andigena has also been utilized by North American programs.     

The Relationship Between Active Oxygen Metabolism and Resistance to Late Blight in Potato

The relationship between active oxygen metabolism and resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was studied for 72 h post-inoculation by comparing three resistant cultivars (low disease index) with three susceptible ones (high disease index). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and the content of ascorbic acid (ASA), were higher in the resistant cultivars than in the susceptible ones. The production rate of the superoxide anion radical (O₂^?) was lower in the resistant cultivars than in the susceptible ones. These changes, which were associated with the potato plant’s response to infection with P. infestans, provide some insight into the physiological basis of resistance and may also provide a screening tool for resistance to late blight.     

Application of a PCR-based test for detection of potato late blight and pink rot in tubers

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test for potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans) and pink rot (P.erythroseptica, P. nicotianae) diseases has been developed for use with potato tuber tissue. Primers based on sequence analysis of the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA of late blight and pink rot pathogens were utilized in PCR assays of inoculated tubers and tubers harvested from plots known to have late blight and/or pink rot. Assays of artificially inoculated Kennebec and Russet Burbank tubers revealed thatP. infestans was detected by PCR as early as 72 h after inoculation and in the absence of visible symptoms. Much higher detection frequencies were obtained by PCR compared with plating on selective medium or placement of tissue in moist chambers. Tubers from plots known to have late blight and/or pink rot were tested using the PCR assay. Assay of late blight lesions showed ca. 80% recovery for late blight-infected tubers from the field. Results indicate that the PCR assay provides a rapid and accurate test for diagnosis of late blight and pink rot in potato tubers.     

Comparative analysis of quantitative trait loci for foliage resistance toPhytophthora infestans in tuber-bearingSolanum species

Previously published data for potato foliage resistance to late blight were examined in a combined analysis to determine how the genetic backgrounds of the host and pathogen affect the occurrence of resistance QTLs. Data from 19 diploid populations and one tetraploid population that originated from at least 12 different tuber-bearingSolanum species were included. Comparative analysis across all populations revealed three highly active genomic regions on the distal parts of chromosomes 3,4, and 5. The region most consistently detected that conferred foliage resistance inSolanum was located on chromosome 5, near marker locus GP21. A previously identified cluster of three race-specific R-genes on chromosome 11 was not associated with polygenic resistance. Statistical examination of active QTLs indicates that congruence among QTLs is significantly affected by both genetic relatedness of mapping populations and race ofPhytophthora infestans used for resistance tests. The proportion of congruent QTLs for late blight resistance decreased from 0.52 detected in relatedSolanum populations tested with the same race ofPhytophthora infestans to 0.20 found in unrelated mapping populations tested with different races ofPhytophthora infestans. Analysis of resistance mapping tests provided statistical evidence for the occurrence of race-specific QTLs in tuber-bearingSolanum. The highly conserved genomic regions identified in the comparative analysis are likely to be good candidates for gene cloning or marker assisted selection in potato breeding programs.