Potato late blight field resistance from QTL dPI09c is conferred by the NB-LRR gene R8.

Following the often short-lived protection that major nucleotide binding, leucine-rich-repeat (NB-LRR) resistance genes offer against the potato pathogen Phytophthora infestans, field resistance was thought to provide a more durable alternative to prevent late blight disease. We previously identified the QTL dPI09c on potato chromosome 9 as a more durable field resistance source against late blight. Here, the resistance QTL was fine-mapped to a 186 kb region. The interval corresponds to a larger, 389 kb, genomic region in the potato reference genome of Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja doubled monoploid clone DM1-3 (DM) and from which functional NB-LRRs R8, R9a, Rpi-moc1, and Rpi_vnt1 have arisen independently in wild species. dRenSeq analysis of parental clones alongside resistant and susceptible bulks of the segregating population B3C1HP showed full sequence representation of R8. This was independently validated using long-range PCR and screening of a bespoke bacterial artificial chromosome library. The latter enabled a comparative analysis of the sequence variation in this locus in diverse Solanaceae. We reveal for the first time that broad spectrum and durable field resistance against P. infestans is conferred by the NB-LRR gene R8, which is thought to provide narrow spectrum race-specific resistance.

Linking the potato genome to the conserved ortholog set (COS) markers.

BACKGROUND: Conserved ortholog set (COS) markers are an important functional genomics resource that has greatly improved orthology detection in Asterid species. A comprehensive list of these markers is available at Sol Genomics Network (http://solgenomics.net/) and many of these have been placed on the genetic maps of a number of solanaceous species. RESULTS: We amplified over 300 COS markers from eight potato accessions involving two diploid landraces of Solanum tuberosum Andigenum group (formerly classified as S. goniocalyx, S. phureja), and a dihaploid clone derived from a modern tetraploid cultivar of S. tuberosum and the wild species S. berthaultii, S. chomatophilum, and S. paucissectum. By BLASTn (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool of the NCBI, National Center for Biotechnology Information) algorithm we mapped the DNA sequences of these markers into the potato genome sequence. Additionally, we mapped a subset of these markers genetically in potato and present a comparison between the physical and genetic locations of these markers in potato and in comparison with the genetic location in tomato. We found that most of the COS markers are single-copy in the reference genome of potato and that the genetic location in tomato and physical location in potato sequence are mostly in agreement. However, we did find some COS markers that are present in multiple copies and those that map in unexpected locations. Sequence comparisons between species show that some of these markers may be paralogs. CONCLUSIONS: The sequence-based physical map becomes helpful in identification of markers for traits of interest thereby reducing the number of markers to be tested for applications like marker assisted selection, diversity, and phylogenetic studies.

Conditional QTL underlying resistance to late blight in a diploid potato population.

A large number of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to late blight of potato have been reported with a "conventional" method in which each phenotypic trait reflects the cumulative genetic effects for the duration of the disease process. However, as genes controlling response to disease may have unique contributions with specific temporal features, it is important to consider the phenotype as dynamic. Here, using the net genetic effects evidenced at consecutive time points during disease development, we report the first conditional mapping of QTL underlying late blight resistance in potato under five environments in Peru. Six conditional QTL were mapped, one each on chromosome 2, 7 and 12 and three on chromosome 9. These QTL represent distinct contributions to the phenotypic variation at different stages of disease development. By comparison, when conventional mapping was conducted, only one QTL was detected on chromosome 9. This QTL was the same as one of the conditional QTL. The results imply that conditional QTL reflect genes that function at particular stages during the host-pathogen interaction. The dynamics revealed by conditional QTL mapping could contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of late blight resistance and these QTL could be used to target genes for marker development or manipulation to improve resistance.