CEEM Progress Report April 16, 2004 to November
15, 2004
The final phase of the Cornell-Eastern Europe-Mexico (CEEM)
International Collaborative Project in Potato Late Blight
Control focused on strengthening existing partnerships and
developing new linkages in Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia),
and Mexico. Continued efforts are being made to identify
new international donors to sustain current and future high
priority projects in potato late blight control.
CEEM made significant progress in: 1) project accomplishments;
2) proposals/agreements for partnerships for research and
technology transfer; 3) conferences/field days; 4) publications,
and 5) fund raising. Presented in this report is the CEEM
project activities carried on from April 16, 2004 to November
15, 2004.
1. Project Accomplishments
A: Cornell University:
At Cornell University the Potato Breeding Program continued
its work on mapping late blight resistance in several important
crosses with late blight resistant parents. Statistical analysis
of segregating progeny indicated a 1:1 segregation for NY12
and NY115 specific markers.
Regression analyses revealed that one of the NY121-specific
1:1 markers, PATMATA171, explained approximately 17% of the
variation for foliar resistance. No other NY121 markers explained
more than 10% of the variation. This AFLP marker appears,
based on distant linkage with two SSR markers, to reside
on chromosome 5.
Ten NY115 specific 1:1 marker alleles each also explained
more than 10% of the variation for resistance to foliar blight.
The highest R2 (39%) was observed for PCTMAAC179. It and
eight other markers were linked in coupling to each other,
and defined a single homolog of chromosome 5. One of the
ancestors of NY115 is known to carry the chromosome 5 based
race specific resistance gene R1, and an R1 sensitive strain
of blight was used for resistance screening, thus this linkage
group likely defines a NY115 chromosome homolog that carries
R1. The remaining marker, PATMAGC286 (R2 = 33%), could not
be linked to any other markers.
The breeding program grew approximately 15,000 progeny of
the cross between NY121 and NY115 as four hill plots in 2004.
Harvest of this material is currently underway. The best
two to three thousand progeny, based on visual assessments
of tuber appearance and yield, will be saved for additional
evaluation in 2005.
The William E. Fry Laboratory collaborated with the Potato
Breeding Program to evaluate resistance to potato late blight
in breeding lines. The analyses were conducted in the field
under favorable conditions and with natural inoculum. Disease
ratings were recorded two to three times a week. Potato late
blight developed naturally and rapidly. Research publications
included work on: a) soil-borne oospores of Phytophthora
infestans in central Mexico survive winter fall and infect
potato plants in the field; b) core promoter structure in
the oomycete Phytophthora infestans; c) efficacy of Biophos
on potato late blight IR-4 Program; and d) simulation modeling
to suppress late blight in the Andes.
The Fry Laboratory hosted
and trained two scientists from east Europe. Both scientists
were interested in population
dynamics of Phytophthora infestans in east Europe. Eve
Runno, a senior graduate student and researcher at the Jogeva
Plant
Breeding Institute in Aamisepa, Estonia spent four months
in the lab analyzing isolates collected in Estonia. Miroslav
Ivanovic a senior graduate student from Serbia underwent
a short training on the various techniques used to characterize
P. infestans isolates.
B: Mexico
Dr. Hector Lozoya-Saldaña technical director of the
International Cooperative Program for Potato Late Blight
(PICTIPAPA) assisted with the importation of promising potato
materials to Mexico for field testing for resistance to potato
late blight. The genotypes were from the USDA Germplasm Bank
at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; USDA-ARS Aberdeen, Idaho; USDA-ARS
Prosser, Washington; and Frito Lay, Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
The bio-engineered potato variety, Katahdin, from the University
of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center; and selected Indian and
Indonesian potato varieties from the International Potato
Center (CIP) which are currently in process of clearing customs.
All the above potato materials imported to Mexico were tested
for field resistance without any application of fungicides.
In another field trial, fungicide treatments were compared
to identify the best treatment for controlling late blight.
Research publications included work on: a) the global importance
of Toluca Valley for studies related to late blight pathogen;
b) characterization of the late blight pathogen isolates
on infected potatoes; and c) sub-populations of Phytophthora
infestans in wild Solanum species in Toluca, Mexico.
C: Poland
CEEM collaborates with the European Concerted Action on Blight
(EUCABLIGHT)--a late blight network for Europe coordinated
by The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) in Dundee,
Scotland. The EUCABLIGHT consortium consists of a group
of 24 European partners from 14 European countries with
varied expertise in both host and pathogen research.
The European Union’s concerted actions are intended
to support the coordination of research, training and development
tasks already financed at the national level where the pooling
of data would facilitate common interpretation of facts,
and contribute to the development of harmonized standards,
procedures, methodologies, processes, or common research
instruments.
The EUCABLIGHT project is organized into three geographic
regions: Western Europe, administered by Didier Andrivon
of the French Institute for Agronomy Research (INRA); Central
Europe, administered by Ewa Zimnoch-Guzowska, Plant Breeding
and Acclimatization Institute (IHAR), and Eastern Europe
administered by Arne Hermansen at The Norwegian Crop Research
Institute (NCRI). There are two themes that run across these
regions. The first theme, characterizing host resistance
is led by Leontine Colon at the Plant Research Institute
(PRI) in The Netherlands, and the second theme, characterizing
pathogen variation, is led by David Cooke at SCRI. The databases
and website is being implemented by Jens Hansen at The Danish
Institute of Agricultural Sciences (DIAS) in Denmark.
IHAR-EUCABLIGHT-CEEM collaborated in various activities.
These included: a) Data collection of epidemiology of late
blight in Poland; b) Research on the stability of late blight
resistance in polish potato cultivars (this was a Master
of Science thesis by B. Tatrowska); and c) training of Polish
and Russian scientists.
CEEM also sponsored Dr. Renata Lebecka’s trip to Russia
to visit the All-Russian Institute of Phytopathology (VNIFF)
to establish a closer collaboration with VNIFF for conducting
potato late blight research with Dr. A. Filippov at Moscow
State University (MSU), and to encourage VNIFF to participate
in EUCABLIGHT. As a result of this trip, it was agreed that:
a) seven Russian potato cultivars would be sent to Poland
for further testing against late blight resistance; and b)
ten isolates of P.infestans representing simple races would
be given from MSU to IHAR for further evaluation. Dr. Svetlana
Spiglazova, research scientist in the Department of Potato
and Vegetable Diseases, All-Russian Research Institute of
Phytopathology (VNIFF), was trained at IHAR on mastering
the practical use of up-to-date methods for testing stability
of potato cultivars and clones, assessment of aggressiveness,
and virulence of P.infestans, preservation of its isolates.
As a result of this training, VNIFF has become a scientific
partner of EUCABLIGHT, and will contribute to the creation
of a database of potato resistance data and P.infestans characteristics.
This data would aid the research community to develop more
effective integrated control approaches for late blight world-wide.
CEEM also facilitated internships for Polish scientists to
train at the Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research
in Gaterslaben, Germany. As an outcome of this training,
scientists were able to learn protocols to improve cryo-preservation
of Polish and Russian potato cultivars for long term use.
In order to continue this kind of laboratory and field work,
support was provided to cover the costs of laboratory reagents.
D: Russia
Researchers from VNIFF completed the rapid rural appraisal
surveys in the Moscow region (Kolomna and Odintsovo districts).
Experiments conducted in these districts indicated that with
the help of partially resistant late blight resistant cultivars,
it is possible to slow down the disease severity in small
farms and increase the effectiveness of the usage of fungicides
in large farms. The study also documented that there are
no rural development agencies or other organizations for
farmers (especially for owners of small farms) that serve
as agricultural extension agents to provide a natural bridge
for the transfer of knowledge and effective technologies.
This study also identified critical steps needed to control
late blight and improve potato production in Russia.
Support was also provided to train potato growers on methods
of integrated control of the late blight pathogen. Eight
workshops were conducted. Five hundred participants attended
and benefited from the field visits that demonstrated potato
late blight resistant cultivars and the judicious use of
fungicide. Researchers at VNIFF published a brochure on the
control of the late bight pathogen and it was widely distributed
to potato growers.
CEEM continues to provide limited support to researchers
at the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry (VIR). Critical
support for email connections, improving and reorganizing
the late blight research laboratory were facilitated through
collaborations with IHAR and USDA-ARS.
2. Proposals/Agreements
2.1 CEEM and VNIFF (Russia) developed proposals for future
funding by the Civilian Development Research Foundation (CRDF)
and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).
The technical committee at CRDF has forwarded the proposal
to the appropriate committee for final funding approval.
2.2 CEEM and PICTIPAPA (Mexico) finalized details for field
testing Frito-Lay, USA potato clones, and agreed on collaborating
in a project to develop bio-engineered potatoes with resistance
to late blight.
2.3 CEEM and the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project
II (ABSP II) finalized the work-plan for the development
of bio-engineered late blight resistant potato. This project
involves collaboration with scientists from Cornell University,
University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, Michigan State
University, PICTIPAPA, and national agriculture programs
from India, Bangladesh and Indonesia. ABSP II would assist
with the transfer of resistance gene, train scientists, facilitate
field testing of locally-adapted bio-engineered varieties,
and assist with regulatory compliance to make available bio-engineered
late blight resistant potato seed to resource limited farmers.
2.4 CEEM and EUCABLIGHT were able to bring in a new partner
(Russia) into the consortium. Russian researchers from VNIFF
will contribute to the EUCABLIGHT database by providing data
on resistance/susceptibility of Russian cultivars to late
blight and the different races of P.infestans.
2.5 CEEM, PICTIPAPA and USDA-FAS finalized details for the
implementation of the, Teach US, program in Toluca-Mexico.
The main focus of this program was to expose USA educators
to the importance of late blight so that the knowledge could
then be shared via lesson plans in USA schools.
3. Conferences/Field Days
3.1 IHAR (Poland) conducted its annual field day at harvest
to demonstrate advanced potato selections.
3.2 In Russia, VNIFF researchers conducted eight workshops
which were attended by 500 participants. The main topics
included: a) general integrated control measures; b) characteristics
of the late blight pathogen and disease; c) significance
of integrated control of potato diseases with emphasis on
late blight (role of chemical control; role of cultural methods;
significance of late blight resistant potato cultivars).
3.3 CEEM and PICTIPAPA collaborators in Mexico participated
in the TEACH US program co-sponsored by USDA-FAS and CEEM.
The program brought together 12 teachers for a two-week program.
The theme of the program was, Teaching Educators Agriculture
and Conservation Holistically. Teachers met with local farmers
and guest speakers in the agricultural community, and with
representatives of the International Trading Office of the
US Embassy. With the knowledge and experience gained as part
of this program, these teachers are expected to develop curriculum
materials that would be used in their local schools.
3.4 Cornell Potato Breeding Program organized its annual
Potato Show and Tell event. 35 potato growers and scientists
participated in this event. Details were provided on descriptions
and results of field performance of advanced selections.
4.0 Future Work
CEEM continues to place high priority to develop mechanisms
for sustaining late blight activities beyond the final phase
of CEEM (Feb. 2005). Some of the activities are likely to
be supported under the newly funded USAID led Cornell project,
Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II. Other new
donors are also likely to support work in Russia, Poland,
and Mexico.
