Recent approaches for late blight disease management of potato caused by phytophthora infestans

Abstract

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the fourth most produced noncereal crop worldwide. Among various biotic stresses, late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is the most devastating disease. It affects both potato foliage in the field and tuber in the storage which can absolutely destroy a crop, producing a 100% crop loss. The occurrence and rigorousness of late blight caused by Phytophthora can be reduced by adopting effective and durable control methods. The use of conventional control methods (cultural practices and fungicides) was limited due to their inefficiency and non-biodegradable nature. Control of the disease has been achieved up to a great extent through the use of fungicides, but their extensive application is harmful for the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternative eco-friendly crop protection methods. The use of microorganisms as biological control agents owing to their different modes of actions (i.e. antagonistic effects or induction of plant defence mechanisms) has proved to be a potential approach. Another economical and eco-friendly remedial measure for plant diseases being adopted involves the use of nanoparticles against plant pathogens. Providing genetic resistance against pests and diseases is another crop protection approach. Multiple resistance (R) genes have been introduced in potato varieties to provide durable resistance to late blight. Genetic modification using cisgenes is preferable as it is a feasible and highly efficient approach with low risks and high societal acceptability. Accumulation of new virulent P. infestans strains decreases the effectiveness of R-genes. Therefore, the loss of function in susceptible gene via gene silencing is the emerging approach which helps in exploring plant-pathogen interactions and provides potential strategies for disease control. RNA silencing without altering the plant genome overcomes the risk associated with transgenic plants.