Relative susceptibility of potato varieties to Streptomyces scabiei and S. acidiscabies

Abstract

In 2000 and 2004, 19 potato varieties were grown in separate plots inoculated with the scab pathogens Streptomyces scabiei and S. acidiscabies. Reaction of the varieties to these two species were highly correlated in both years, with no host variety-pathogen species interaction. These results are consistent with the central role of the bacterial toxin thaxtomin in scab development, and indicate that this and other mechanisms involved in pathogen infection and establishment are not expressed differentially with regard to variety. Likewise, there is no apparent differential response of the pathogens to those host factors determining the degrees of resistance and symptoms expressed in different varieties.