Potato Tuber Resistance to Phytophthora infestans and its Relation to Maturity

Tuber resistance to P. infestans was evaluated in the progeny of potato genotypes differing in levels of resistance and maturity. Two methods of tuber evaluation were used: testing whole tubers and testing tuber slices. In the progeny, some genotypes were superior in resistance to the more resistant parent. This superiority was never associated with early maturity. The results of both tuber-testing methods were positively correlated but the interaction genotypes X years was more pronounced in the reaction of tuber slices. It is concluded that: (1) transgression in tuber resistance may be obtained, (2) a high level of tuber resistance is difficult to combine with early maturity and (3) the expression of genes for specific resistance was more pronounced in testing tuber slices than in testing whole tubers.