Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Phytophthora infestans Isolates Associated with Tomato and Potato Crops in Colombia

Abstract

Late blight disease, caused by the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is one of the major threats for tomato and potato crops. Monitoring the populations of P. infestans is important to determine if there are changes in the sensitivity to fungicides and host preference. In this study, microsatellite markers and mitochondrial haplotypes were used to assess the genotype of isolates of P. infestans collected from tomato and potato plants in Colombia. Furthermore, sensitivity to the three fungicides cymoxanil (penetrant fungicide), mefenoxam, and fluopicolide (systemic fungicides), and tomato-potato host preference, were evaluated. Mitochondrial haplotyping showed that isolates collected on tomato were from the genetic groups Ia and Ib, while isolates collected on potatoes belonged to group IIa. Microsatellite analyses showed that isolates from tomato form two groups, including the Ib mitochondrial haplotype (which is genetically close to the US-1 clonal lineage) and the Ia haplotype (related to the EC-3 lineage), whereas Colombian isolates from potato formed a separate group. Furthermore, differences in sensitivity to fungicides were observed. Eighty-one percent of the isolates tested were resistant to mefenoxam with an EC₅₀ >10 μg ml^-1. Forty-two percent of the isolates showed an intermediate resistance to cymoxanil. The EC₅₀ values ranged between 1 and 10 μg ml^-1. For fluopicolide, 90% of the isolates were sensitive, with EC₅₀ <1 μg ml^-1. Host preference assays showed that potato isolates infected both host species. Thus, isolates that infect potatoes may pose a risk for tomato crops nearby.

Keywords: Phytophthora infestans; disease control and pest management; genotypic characterization; oomycetes; population biology; potato; sensitivity to fungicides; tomato; tomato-potato host preference.