Fight Against Blight: projects monitoring late blight genotypes in potato crops

Summary

Fight Against Blight (FAB) began in 2004. Agronomists and growers (Blight Scouts) submitted field collected samples of suspected late blight outbreaks. The distribution of the outbreaks was mapped and the samples tested to provide more information about the Phytophthora infestans populations in GB. During the early work, the late blight mating type was determined. This was discontinued in later studies (2012 onwards) when the focus shifted to the assessment of pathogen genetic diversity using microsatellite genotyping techniques.

The analysis of the samples was carried out through a series of research projects. In some projects, more detailed studies of the characterstics of the late blight genotypes were carried out (e.g., pathogen aggressiveness or fungicide sensitivity testing). The projects are summarised below and the final reports are provided at the bottom of the page. A cost-benefit analysis for the FAB projects (up to 2012) is also provided.

Projects

807/241 (2004-2005) Sexual reproduction in the late-blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans; its role in aggravating the late-blight problem in GB

mating type, virulence, pathogenicity, sensitivity to metalaxyl

R274 (2006 -2008) Survey of GB blight populations

genetic diversity of the pathogen
likelihood and risks of oospore formation
aggressiveness of the 13_A2 genotype

R423 (2009-2011) Fight Against Blight: monitoring Phytophthora infestans populations in GB

frequency of mating types and genetic diversity of the pathogen
aggressiveness of 11 genotypes (including 13_A2, 6_A1) assessed
response of the pathogen to temperature and relative humidity. The results provided evidence of the need to review the Smith Period criteria
relative spread of genotypes in an inoculated field trial
comparative ability of genotypes to infect and survive on potato tubers

11120012 (2014-2018) Fight Against Blight: monitoring Phytophthora infestans populations in GB

genetic diversity of the pathogen
in 2016 & 2017 tuber blight samples were also genotyped

11120047 (2018) Late blight fungicide sensitivity testing

late blight isolates from 2017 and 2018 were tested

11120134 (2019-2021) Fight Against Blight: monitoring Phytophthora infestans populations in GB

genetic diversity of the pathogen and fungicide sensitivity testing

Sector:

Potatoes

Date:

01 January 2004 - 31 March 2022

Project leader:

David Cooke

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