Field Assessment of Resistance in Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) to Late Blight Disease (Phytophthora Infestans (Mont.) DE Bary) in Jos, Plateau State

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most widely farmed and consumed crops in the world. Many diseases, including late blight  disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) De Bary, have been shown to negatively impact the quality of the tubers  and the yield of the crop. Late blight disease is considered to be the most severe of these diseases. In recent years, new strains of the  disease have evolved, making potato production more difficult to maintain. Application of fungicides on a regular basis or altering the  planting season are common control strategies. However, fungicides are not only expensive, but their long-term use has negative  consequences on the environment, human health, and livestock. Our study sought to determine the natural field resistance of different  potato types in Jos, to the late blight disease, which was discovered by chance. To evaluate the field resilience of potato types to late  blight, ten potato varieties were planted in the Kuru experimental field of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI). Infection  began at approximately the same period (6WAP) for the majority of the types. The final disease scores were considerably different at the  conclusion of the disease assessment. The number of outbreaks indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship with the  course of late blight. Several types, with the exception of Connect and Nicola, showed rapid disease progression, with the gradient of the  regression lines becoming gradually steeper over time. According to the findings of this investigation, Nicola and Connect have a certain  amount of field tolerance to late blight. Thus, selection for late blight resistance is achievable, and resistant R-genes can be isolated and  inserted into susceptible types in order to bestow resistance on the plants.