Fytosanitair: Wratziekte

The aim of this project is to update the pathotype concept in wart disease (Synchytrium endobioticum), based on recent insights into potato resistances and fungal diversity. This concerns phenotypic and if possible molecular characterization of the isolates for the presence/absence of specific avirulence genes, taking into account the differences in genetic backgrounds. Using a set of well-characterized potato genotypes covering the diversity of resistance genes as much as possible, and using representative well-characterized fungal isolates as reference. As a result, we expect a new format to be more robust.
Currently, for wart disease six different main resistances have been positioned on the genetic map (Sen1 to Sen6) and a number (>4) other sources of resistance have been described. In the current pathotype system, each combination of resistance is named separately, but with ten resistance genes there are 210 = 1024 possible pathotype combinations. The aim of the project is to arrive at a more functional classification based on a gene-to-gene interaction. This involves looking at the (in)compatibility of the isolates per resistance gene, so that a more targeted selection can be made for resistant potato varieties for practice.
After completion of this project, it can therefore be expected that no major system changes will be necessary in the coming decades. If new isolates are still found, the list of pathotypes can be expanded using the methodology developed in this project. If possible, this is done with molecular markers. In this project more insight can be obtained about the selection and evolution of new pathotypes.