Development and Application of a Multiplex Marker Assay to Detect PVY Resistance Genes in Solanum tuberosum

Abstract

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a major pathogen affecting potato production worldwide. Three independent genes ( Ry adg, Ry sto, and Ry chc ) conferring genetic resistance to all known strains of the virus are currently utilized by breeding programs to develop potato varieties containing extreme resistance to infection by PVY. These resistance genes are typically detected using primers specific for the generation of markers closely-linked to the resistance genes. In recent years there have been attempts to develop a multiplex PCR assay for all resistance genes, but all current published methods either omit at least one resistance gene or are unnecessarily complex and therefore difficult to incorporate successfully for marker-assisted selection. We have developed an assay which tests for the presence of all three sources of resistance in a single, easy to use PCR protocol. The multiplex PCR assay was applied to potato varieties, second-field year breeding germplasm, and a selection of test crosses having progeny segregating for multiple resistance genes to validate the methodology for use in marker-assisted selection in potato breeding programs.

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