Hoekstra, R. & M. Munzert (1990) Resistenzen gegen Erwinia in Solanum spp. Tagungsbericht Wintertagung 1990 der DLG-Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kartoffelzüchtung und Pflanzguterzeugung, 13/14-11-1990, Fulda. p. 16-26.

Interpretive summary

471 accessions of 61 different wild and 4 cultivated potato species of the Dutch German Potato Collection were screened for resistance to blackleg. This disease is caused by Erwinia carotovora var. atroseptica (van Hall) Dye. The screening method was described by Munzert (1975; Potato Research 18: 308-313). The method tests only one aspect of the plant defence system against Erwinia; namely the inhibition of the spread of the bacteria from the tuber into the stem. The method was mainly developed for potato cultivars and it is uncertain whether it is suited for testing wild species with small tubers.
74% and 24% of the tested accessions from wild and cultivated species respectively have been scored resistant. In most species one or more resistant accessions were found. However, in many cases only a few accessions per species have been screened, so it can only be indicated now, which species show more often resistance. For Solanum chacoense 21 out of 22 accessions were scored resistant. Also the Mexican species S. bulbocastanum, S. pinnatisectum, S. polyadenium, S. fendleri, S. papita and S. verrucosum as well as the South American species S. commersonii, S. gourlayi, S. hondelmannii, S. oplocense, S. sparsipilum, S. sucrense, S. vernei and S. virgultorum should be mentioned as species with a low susceptibility to blackleg.
However, there are also interesting resistance sources available in the primitive cultivated species (e.g. S. phureja and S. tuberosum subsp. andigena). Potato breeders mostly prefer cultivated species, requiring less backcrossing.

Last updated 3/3/2003 by Roel Hoekstra. The complete text (in German) can be requested from: R. (Roel) Hoekstra.