Identification of novel late blight resistance source in wild potato species and interspecific somatic hybrids, and their distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) characterization

Abstract

Forty potato genotypes, including wild Solanum species and interspecific somatic hybrids were characterized for late blight resistance and distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) descriptors. Thirty-two genotypes (14 wild species + 18 somatic hybrids) were found highly resistant to late blight, whereas 4 were resistant and 1 was moderately resistant compared to the control varieties viz., Kufri Jyoti (susceptible), Kufri Bahar (highly susceptible), and Kufri Girdhari (highly resistant). All wild species were high resistant to late blight. Further, morphological characterization based on 51 DUS descriptors showed phenotypic variation in the genotypes studied. Thus, we identified late blight-resistant potato wild species and somatic hybrids, which could serve as a potential source for late blight resistance breeding.