Examination of resistance of potato genotypes to Erwinia ssp.

Potato can be attacked by several economically important pathogens. From the various diseases, in our experiment we dealt with the bacterial soft rot of potato caused by Erwinia species. In the experiments back cross progenies (BC1, BC2, BC3 and BC4) of Solanum brevidens + Solanum tuberosum somatic hybrids produced by the Potato Research Centre, Keszthely were tested to the infection of E carotovora ssp. atroseptica (Eca), E. carotovora ssp. carotovora (Ecc) and E. chrysanthemi (Echr). All together 11 BC genotypes pre selected from several hundred breeding lines based on their preferred agronomical appearance and virus resistance characters as well as 4 Hungarian potato cultivar (Rioja, Desiree, White lady and Hópehely) as controls were involved into the experiments. Tuber slices from each genotype were artificially infected with bacteria suspension Ecc strain D3, and Echr strain CHR 1492, and Eca strain BN3) and incubated at 27 degrees C with 100% relative air humidity for 48 h before evaluation. Dry matter and starch content of tubers were determined right before the tests. Volume of rotted tuber tissue was determined in mm3 and used for comparison of the level of resistance or susceptibility of the genotypes. Relationship between the reaction to the bacteria strains and dry matter content was examined also. Tested genotypes showed the highest resistance to Eca, while the highest susceptibility to Echr. By the increase of BC level the susceptibility of the genotypes significantly increased as well regardless of the tested bacteria. No direct correlation was found between the dry matter content of tubers and their reaction to tested bacteria.