1. Departmentof Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 U.S.A.;2. UDSA, ARS, NCR, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706 U.S.A.
Abstract:
Tetraploid somatic hybrids were produced by protoplast fusion between Solanum brevidens, a diploid non-tuber-bearing wild species and a diploid tuber-bearing potato line derived from an S. tuberosum Gp. Phureja-Stenotumum population. S. brevidens has resistance to potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and frost but is difficult to cross sexually with cultivated potato. Hybridity was verified by morphological characteristics and cytological observations. Nine of ten hybrids tested showed resistance to PLRV. Hybrids produced fertile pollen and eggs which may allow beneficial traits of S. brevidens to be incorporated into a conventional potato breeding programme.