Progress April 16, 2003-October 15,
2003
The last phase of the Cornell-Eastern Europe-Mexico International
Collaborative Project in Potato Late Blight Control (CEEM)
continues to develop and implement mechanisms for sustainable
potato late blight control projects in Russia, Poland, and
Mexico.
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. In this report, the activities conducted
from April 16, 2003 to October 15, 2003 are presented.
1. Project Accomplishments
A: Cornell University:
Researchers at Cornell, Dr. William E. Fry and colleagues,
made progress on two projects.
The first one dealt with quantitative resistance in potato
using crosses of cultivated and wild potato species (S.tuberosum
x S.berthaultii) backcrosses. In this study researchers analyzed
resistance of Phytophthora infestans in two reciprocal inter-specific
backcrosses. Analyses were accomplished with different strains
of P.infestans isolated from the U.S.A. and Mexico. The experiments
were conducted in different environments including fields
in upstate New York and the Toluca Valley, Mexico, plastic
houses and mist chambers. The researchers report a significant
and lasting effect of a defeated major R-gene (R12) in interactions
with different, compatible P. infestans isolates. Their results
also show quantitative resistance loci (QRLs) with a general
effect (isolate nonspecific) in chromosomes III, X and XII.
Isolate specificity was found for other QRLs present in eleven
out of the twelve potato chromosomes. In general, the S. berthaultii
allele (wild diploid potato) was associated with a decrease
in disease severity.
The second project dealt with the role of
oospores in the ecology/epidemiology of P. infestans in central
Mexico. Survival and infectivity of oospores in soils naturally
infested with P. infestans oospores were studied in central
Mexico. Sporangia were selectively eliminated from soil samples
to determine infectivity attributable to the presence of oospores.
Selective elimination of sporangia was achieved by two cycles
of wetting and drying the soil. Oospore concentration, viability
and infectivity varied among soils collected during the winter
fallow in different locations of central Mexico. In some soils,
oospores were infective regardless of the time at which they
were collected during the winter fallow. However, oospore viability
and infectivity decreased following two years of intercropping.
The number of stem lesions and initial disease severity were
significantly higher in soils with moderate (20-39 oospores
g-1soil) oospore infestation compared to soils with low (0-19
oospores g-1soil) infestation. This study confirms that oospores
can survive winter fallow and serve as a source of primary inoculum
in the central highlands of Mexico. Oospore survival appeared
lower in the Toluca Valley soil, which may be an indication
of soil suppressiveness.
Dr. Walter De Jong and his collaborators initiated a project
to map late blight resistance in a cross between NY121 (blight
resistant, female parent) and NY115 (blight susceptible, male
parent). This project is funded primarily by a grant from
the National Potato Council / ARS, but building upon previous
and current CEEM support in developing blight resistant varieties.
The ultimate goal is to develop a PCR marker linked to the
late blight resistance gene(s) present in NY121, so that this
source of resistance can be more efficiently manipulated in
the Cornell potato program.
For the past few years NY121 has been used extensively as
a parent in our breeding efforts. In 2003 approximately 80%
of the first year seedlings planted, for a total of 25,000
seedlings, were from the NY121 x NY115 cross. It is anticipated
that a large number of these progeny will chip well and form
attractive tubers with clear, bright skin. 233 progeny of
this cross were evaluated for blight resistance in the greenhouse
in spring 2003. Ninety-four individuals exhibiting a range
of reactions to late blight, from highly resistant to fully
susceptible, were selected to construct a genetic map. These
progeny are currently being evaluated with a large number
of SSR and AFLP primer combinations. Once there is reasonably
complete genome coverage we will examine whether any of the
SSR or AFLP markers exhibit linkage with the blight resistance
gene(s) contributed by NY121.
B: Mexico
CEEM’s collaborators in Toluca, Mexico,
Dr. Hector Lozoya Saldaña and co-workers, conducted many
field trials. Over 1,200 potato clones were cleared from customs
in Mexico and planted for resistance to potato late blight.
The materials tested were from: USDA Aberdeen-Idaho; Prosser-Washington
State; Sturgeon Bay-Wisconsin; Albany-California; Beltsville-
Maryland; Rheinlander- Wisconsin; and University of Wales, Bangor,
UK.
Apart from the above materials, three bio-engineered potato
varieties with resistance to potato late blight were field
tested for the first time in Toluca. The transgenic potato
variety, Katahdin, developed with a gene from a wild potato
species (S.bulbocastanum) was found resistant.
C: Poland
Dr. Ewa Zimnoch-Guzowska and co-workers studied
the stability of resistance to potato late blight in 22 Polish
potato cultivars. These cultivars were planted in four locations
in the Central and Southeastern parts of Poland. Each cultivar
was grown on 6-hill plots in two replications surrounded by
infector plants (susceptible cv. Tarpan). Tested cultivars were
exposed to the natural infection with P. infestans. During field
observations 11 isolates of P. infestans were collected from
tested cultivars for further phenotypic and genotypic characteristics.
The field assessment of resistance to late blight was complemented
by laboratory test on detached leaflets. For detached leaflets
assay the highly pathogenic isolate MP 425 was used. In this
test the most resistant leaflets were observed for cultivars:
Meduza (9.0 in 1-9 grade scale, where 9 means resistant), Wawrzyn
(9.0), Jantar (8.8), Klepa (8.6), Zeus (8.4) and Jasia (8.2).
The most susceptible leaflets have been observed for cultivars:
Rywal (2.1), Albina (2.4), Ania (2.5), Bzura (2.6), Anielka
(2.8) and Irys (2.9). The expression of virulence factors of
the MP 245 isolate was determined.
D: Russia
Dr. Alexei Filippov of the All-Russian Research Institute of
Phytopathology (VNIIF), Moscow, Russia, and his team of collaborators
worked out a late blight forecasting system based on the Schrodter
and Ullrich negative prognosis based on meteorological data.
This system forecasts the time of primary attacks and determines
the terms of subsequent fungicide applications during the season
by using three to five days prognosis of weather favorable for
separate waves of P. infestans. The negative prognosis has been
modified by VNIFF (information about the level of infected seed
tubers was included). During two seasons this method was tested
and successfully used in 24 regions of the Former Soviet Soviet
Union. The NegFry system needs to be compared with their system
in several regions. Both systems can be improved with the addition
of the information about weather requirements for new P. infestans
populations. The Russian transgenic potato variety, Nevsky,
is currently at USDA-ARS for laboratory testing, it is likely
that it will be released in January 2004 for field-testing at
Cornell University, if it meets all requirements for release.
The results of the March 2003 CEEM team visit trip report have
been analyzed and are now available at the CEEM office.
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2. Proposals/Agreements
2.1 CEEM and IHAR (Poland) finalized a memorandum of agreement
for organizing workshops, exchange of scientists; fellowships
for Russian scientists at Mlochow, Poland and research on
the stability of potato late blight resistance in Polish potato
cultivars; epidemiology studies; and developing appropriate
protocols for storing relevant potato cultivars for long term
use in the region (Russia and Poland).
2.2 CEEM and VNIIF (Russia) signed an agreement for research
and extension outreach for potato late blight control in Moscow
considering the most important constraints to improve potato
production in Kolomna, Moscow. To achieve this, will include
training for farmers and field tests for the development of
integrated late blight disease management. This work will
be conducted by the All - Russian Institute of Phytopathology
and a partnership of experts from the Test-Potato-Service
Center, Kolomna Regional Plant Protection Service, and the
Kolomna Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.
2.3 CEEM and PICTIPAPA (Mexico) signed an agreement for collaborative
research with Mexican scientists to enhance potato late blight
resistance. The work includes the evaluation of potato cultivars,
data collection on field performance, molecular characterization
of the late blight pathogen, storage of selected materials,
and outreach and training of national program staff and farmer
organizations on the used of advanced late blight resistant
materials.
2.4 U.S. Civilian Research Foundation (CRDF) Proposal for
$80,000 was submitted in July 2003 for the developing and
deploying potato cultivars resistant to late blight disease
in Russia and countries of the Former Soviet Union (Russia).
2.5 CEEM and the Potato Late Blight Network for Europe (EUCABLIGHT)
agreed to collaborate on Information and Decision Support
for Potato Late Blight for Poland and Russia. The EUCABLIGHT
consortium consists of a group of 24 European partners from
14 European countries with varied expertise in both host and
pathogen research.
2.6 The United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) recently awarded Cornell University led consortium,
The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII).
This project focuses on the safe and effective development
and commercialization of bio-engineered crops as a complement
to traditional and organic agricultural approaches in developing
countries (Asia and Africa). CEEM is currently in discussion
with ABSP II for developing future project that will focus
on the development and commercialization of transgenic potato
varieties with resistance to Potato late blight in developing
countries.
2.7 CEEM and USDA-ARS are in final negotiations for identifying
additional funding support for Potato Late Blight research
in Toluca, Mexico and Russia. The agreement when finalized
will allow researchers from the USA to field test their materials.
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3. Conferences/Field Days
3.1 CEEM in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU)
and the United States Department of Agriculture-Foreign Agriculture
Service (USDA-FAS) short course on agriculture biotechnology
hosted a two-day workshop for 25 participants from east Europe,
representing 9 countries, and 5 faculty/staff members from
MSU. Participants were given an overview of the CEEM project
and were able to see the field trials of the potato improvement
program at Mount Pleasant and the potato late blight field
trials at Freeville. This provided participants with an opportunity
to observe technology research and development, and project
collaboration at Cornell University.
3.2 The 87th annual meeting of the Potato Association of
America (PAA) was held in Spokane, Washington, DC. This conference
brought together 290 scientists and researchers involved in
potato research and development from all over the world to
share scientific information. A total of 18 potato late blight
abstracts from various scientists around the world were submitted
on the study of potato late blight. This conference served
to keep scientists up to date on recent research conducted
in the United States of America, and abroad. CEEM researchers
from Cornell, Mexico, Poland and Russia met and discussed
progress and future projects.
3.3 Several scientists from Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones
Forestales Agricolas Pecuarias (INIFAP), CEEM, and USDA-ARS
convened in Toluca, Mexico to discuss research and development
in potato late blight management. Dr. Hector Lozoya-Saldaña
and his team of collaborators at the PICTIPAPA experimental
station demonstrated the field layout of the experimental
plots, the mini-tuber production, the Mexican potato varieties,
and recent research on transgenic potatoes resistant to late
bight. The group also visited the slopes of the Nevado de
Toluca and several nearby small farms in search of wild species
potatoes resistant to Potato late blight.
Recognition was given to Mexican graduate students, Manuel
Coyote Palma, M.Sc. candidate from the Agricultural University
of Chapingo for his work on P. infestans antagonists at the
PanAmerican Plant Disease Conference, South Padre Island,
Texas. Recognition from the same event was also awarded to
Gaspar Romero Montes, M.Sc. candidate from the Colegio de
Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico for his work on oospore
temporal density in foliage and characterization of late blight
epidemics. In addition to this, a certificate of recognition
was presented to Romero Montes for best student poster presentation.
Both students have developed their research at the PICTIPAPA
facilities.
3.4 The annual EUCABLIGHT conference will
be held in October 2003, to hold a late blight symposium as
well as to discuss the data collection process to be posted
on EUCABLIGHT web page for use by researchers, farmers, outreach
extensionists, and to discuss progress towards project goals.
A program of selected speakers will cover important aspects
of late blight research.
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4. Publications
4.1 A total of 18 articles were published as abstracts, scientific
papers and posters in conferences. The CEEM home page has a
new look, and has news updates on its homepage. An archive of
CEEM news articles has also been developed.
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5. Future Work
5.1. A high priority will be placed on the development of specific
late blight management projects in eastern Europe with the participation
of scientists from Poland, Scotland, Mexico, Peru, U.K. Russia,
and the U.S.A. Both the public and private sector will be participating
in these projects. Collaboration with ABSPII, and our cooperators
in Poland, Russia, and Mexico will allow the implementation
of applied projects at the farm level with opportunities for
impact assessment studies.
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