Germplasm Evaluations
The PPG routinely screens advanced and developing potato breeding lines, heirloom varieties, and less-adapted materials such as wild species and somatic hybrids for resistance to late blight, Verticillium wilt, and common scab. We interact extensively with the UM Potato Breeding Program and serve as a test site for the National Late Blight, National Common Scab, and Quad-State (MI, MN, ND, WI) trials. We welcome materials from other potato researchers and breeders as space permits. If you would like to submit materials for future evaluation, please contact us.
Our laboratory specializes in the study of wild potato species comprising the potato tertiary genepool. These efforts focus on discovering, understanding, and accessing disease resistance genes from approximately twenty diploid wild potato species collectively known as superseries Stellata. Our research reveals that these species are rich and largely untapped sources of genes imparting resistance to pathogens, insects, and environmental stresses. Combining traditional plant pathology and modern genomics approaches, we are beginning, for the first time, to incorporate these genes into cultivated potato. Our efforts will yield novel and potentially durable genetic resistance to some of the worst potato pathogens.
We also conduct research aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of disease resistance screening methods for potato germplasm evaluation. We have completed multi-year studies examining field cultural methods for wild potato species, research that allows large-scale field evaluation of disease resistance. We have also compared different methods for field, greenhouse, and in vitro testing of foliar late blight resistance.
Want to know more about our research? Visit our Research Projects page and check out our recent Publications and Presentations & Posters.
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