Researchers map late blight strains in potato on Java, Indonesia

Potato late blight disease is credited as the cause of the great Irish potato famine of 1845. It has been called the worst of all diseases known to potato. Farmers hope for effective and durable late blight solutions as researchers continue to study and understand Phytophthora infestans, the fungus-like microorganism that causes the disease.

A new study, Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Phytophthora infestans populations on Java, Indonesia, published in Plant Pathology identifies for the first time the genotypes, or strains of P. infestans, causing late blight in the main potato-growing regions on the island of Java in Indonesia and secondly, examines the diversity in the genetic makeup in the P. infestans populations in those regions.

Dr. Phillip Wharton, Associate Professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Idaho and lead author of the publication:

"Researchers are using breeding technologies to develop solutions that provide resistance to P. infestans. So, understanding the genotypes and genotypic diversity of the pathogen and how they evolve is key to achieving lasting, durable resistance to the disease."

U.S. researchers from the University of Idaho, University of Minnesota, and Michigan State University collaborated with colleagues from the Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development (ICABIOGRAD) to collect and study P. infestans samples over a four-year span (2016-19) from 15 locations in nine regencies on Java, Indonesia.

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The Indonesian team of scientists collecting late blight isolates in a potato field in the highlands of Java

Microsatellite analysis revealed that late blight outbreaks in these regencies were caused by EU_2_A1, a European genotype, and other genotypes that are closely related to EU_2_A1 but unique to Indonesia.

These results suggest that the original genotype introduced into Indonesia was probably EU_2_A1 and that there is ongoing evolution in these populations due to a high mutation rate and no selection pressure from the susceptible potato hosts that are currently being grown in Indonesia.

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Ms. Ineu Sulastrini, Pathologist from Indonesian Vegetable Research Center (INVEGRI) in potato field

The research team is part of the Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership (BPP). Led by Michigan State University, the project aims to bring genetically engineered late blight resistant potato to smallholder farmers in Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The development of genetically modified potatoes is a multi-step process where specific gene(s) are inserted into the genome of the desired potato variety. The protein expression of the gene(s) in the plant can result in changes in the way the plant reacts to stressors such as infection by a pathogen.

In this project, three genes from wild potato species that are known to provide natural resistance to late blight disease are inserted in farmer and consumer preferred varieties. The result is a preferred potato variety that has durable disease protection.

Benefits of the late blight resistant potato include reduction in exposure to chemical fungicides. Wharton estimates that current chemical fungicide spraying used to control late blight could be reduced by up to 90%.

Dr. Phillip Wharton:

"This dramatically reduces farmers and their families direct contact with synthetic chemicals which are often applied weekly throughout the growing season and often without personal protective equipment leaving residue on themselves, in the soil and on the potatoes.”

“Less fungicide application equals less synthetic chemical exposure to growers, consumers and the environment."

Solving the late blight problem may also lead to less post-harvest loss and increased yield. Early results of confined field trials with three gene late blight resistant potatoes in Indonesia appear to show that there is a correlation between absence of the disease and greater yields.

Dr. Phillip Wharton:

"Although a lot more research needs to be done, early indication is that a late blight resistant potato could also benefit a growing population with higher crop output."

With global population projected to exceed nine billion by 2050 and many more mouths to feed, this is positive news.

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Terraced potato fields in Indonesia

Wharton and the Biotechnology Potato Partnership team, who he has nicknamed the late blight hunters, have conducted similar P. infestans surveys throughout Bangladesh, the project’s other geographic focus. Results of those surveys are expected to be published soon.

This work was funded in whole (or part) by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement #AIDOAALA1500056 as part of the Feed the Future Biotechnology Potato Partnership.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors alone.