International Potato Center

About: International Potato Center is a facility organization based out in Lima, Peru. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Phytophthora infestans. The organization has 1036 authors who have published 1460 publications receiving 47183 citations.

Badnaviruses of Sweet Potato: Symptomless Coinhabitants on a Global Scale.

Abstract: Sweet potato is among the most important root crops worldwide, particularly in developing countries, and its production is affected severely by a variety of virus diseases. During the last decade, a number of new viruses have been discovered in sweet potatoes through next-generation sequencing studies. Among them are viruses belonging to the genus Badnavirus and collectively assigned to the species sweet potato pakakuy virus (SPPV). We determined the complete genome sequence of two SPPV isolates and show the ubiquitous presence of similar viruses in germplasm and field material from around the globe. We show that SPPV is not integrated into the sweet potato genome, occurs only at extremely low titers, and is efficiently transmitted through seeds and cuttings. They are unaffected by virus elimination therapy and do not induce discernible symptoms in sweet potatoes or indicator host plants. They show considerable variation in their nucleotide sequences and correspond to several genetic lineages. Studies of their interaction with the two most important sweet potato viruses showed only limited synergistic increase in the titers of one of two SPPV isolates. We contend that these viruses may pose little threat to sweet potato production and more likely represent a new type of persistent virus in sweet potato.

Characterization of Blast Resistance in the Durably Resistant Rice Cultivar Moroberekan

Abstract: Despite tremendous investment on blast research and control, blast remains one of the most widespread and destructive diseases of rice. Growing blast-resistant varieties is the preferred method for protecting rice from blast and for reducing the use of fungicides. Although resistance to blast is often short-lived, especially when resistance is conferred by single major genes, some cultivars possess durable resistance, as defined by Johnson (1981; Parlevliet, 1988). For instance, rice cultivars IR36, IR42, IR64, Milyangv30 and Milyang42 show durable resistance to blast under irrigated or rainfed lowland conditions. Moroberekan, ROK16, LAC23, IRAT13, 0S6 and some Brazilian upland rice cultivars show durable resistance to blast in upland conditions (Bonman and Mackill, 1988; Lee et al.,1989; Bidaux, 1978; Ahn, 1994; Fomba and Taylor, 1994). Characterization of the genetic basis of the resistance in these cultivars would provide insight into the durable resistance, and would be useful in designing genotypes with novel resistance.