LWV25032 Resistance to potato leafroll virus (PLRV) (TS-02-227-044)

Viral diseases cause significant economic losses and are a great risk for potato production. Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is persistently transmitted by aphids, once an aphid acquires the virus it is infective for life. Prevention of PLRV disease is managed by selection of virus free potato seed stocks. PLRV disease is becoming into a major threat to potato cultivation worldwide due to the progressive ban on the application of insecticides. PLRV disease resistant is sparce in potato varieties but amply available in wild potato species. Hence, it is urgent to breed for PLRV resistant varieties to mitigate the impact of this disease on potato production. To reach this goal, three knowledge gaps have to be bridged:  1. Develop reliable PLRV inoculation assays to validate the resistance and recognition specificity, 2. Identify resistance (R) gene(s) and develop (molecular) breeding tools, 3. Establish a catalog of PLRV resistance sources through the viral recognition specificity of the involved R genes. The knowledge and tools that can be obtained with this research are essential for breeders to efficiently select PLRV resistant varieties. Particularly, since R genes can reside in the same genetic locus  breeders need to make choices for R gene combinations (PLRV, additional viruses and other diseases). Our PLRV resistance catalog will provide a rationale for these choices. This work provides an essential new pilar ongoing breeding efforts to produce a new generation of resilient potato varieties that allow sustainable potato production.