Potato is one of the most consumed crops worldwide. One strategy aimed at pathogen and pest management is the cultivation of resistant varieties. In this study, 352 genotypes from the Kazakhstan potato germplasm collection were screened for the presence of loci for resistance to the most harmful pathogens and pests using 30 DNA markers. ‘Rucheek’ and ‘Spiridon’, among the top global varieties, and ‘Janaisan’ and ‘Fedor’, among the top local varieties, were identified as bearing the most resistance loci in the collection, with at least 14 markers each. The specimens carrying the genes Ryadg (ADG1, ADG2), Nb (SPUD237), Ns (SC811, CP16), Rpi-phu1 (GP94), and GroV1 (X02), which demonstrate confirmed resistance to PVY, PVA, PVX, PVS, Phytophthora infestans, and Globodera rostochiensis, were most frequently found in the collection. Loci for resistance to Synchytrium endobioticum and Globodera pallida were less introgressed into the Kazakhstani cultivars and were almost absent in the germplasm collection. The less abundant loci found in the current potato collection were Ryadg (RysC3), Gro1-4 (Gro1-4), and Rladg (RGASC₈₅₀). Screening of the potato collection showed that the markers SPUD237, CP60, 45/X1, and CT214 generated additional polymorphic amplicons, while markers Nl25, C237, GP179, and GP122₇₁₈ were less applicable in robust large-scale screening. The results from this study may greatly contribute to marker-assisted selection and gene pyramiding strategies aimed at developing new potato varieties with multiple resistance to biotic stress

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important staple crop in Kazakhstan. In Aktobe Region (‘Aktyubinsk oblast’), Western Kazakhstan, 95,000 tons of potatoes were harvested in 2017 from 6,300 ha, wi...

The golden potato cyst nematode, (GN), Globodera rostochiensis, is a major quarantine pest of potato. This study investigated the resistance of domestic and foreign potato varieties and breeding lines widely cultivated in Kazakhstan to GN. This was the first time that domestic varieties were evaluated using molecular and phenotypic methods. The Miras variety and the breeding lines KС-26, KС-24 and KС-37 were found to be the most valuable in terms of resistance, as was the Chinese variety Xisen 6 zoned in Kazakhstan. Foreign varieties Juwel, Secura, Colomba, Queen Anne, Lisana, Sanjava and Paroli also showed resistance to the pest. These genotypes represent a valuable source material for the breeding of potato varieties, resistant to G. rostochiensis. The 57R molecular marker provided 91% diagnostic accuracy, with no false-positives and only 9% false-negative. The calculation of the Fechner sign correlation coefficient showed a strong positive correlation between phenotypic resistance and the 57R marker detection, confirming its high diagnostic value and suitability for marker-assisted selection.

The objective of this study was to screen Kazakhstan-developed potato varieties for DNA markers linked to genes conferring extreme resistance to potato virus Y (PVY) and to evaluate their resistance to PVY infection. The object of the study was the biomaterial from 36 potato varieties provided by Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing Limited Liability Partnership and Kostanay Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture Limited Liability Partnership. To determine the level of resistance to potato virus Y in the samples, plants were artificially infected with the virus in open ground and under controlled phytotron conditions. The assessment was carried out by visual observation of symptoms on inoculated potato plants, as by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 38% of the varieties have shown extreme resistance to potato virus Y, 16% - Medium resistance (MR), 8% - Susceptible (S) and 41 % - High sensitivity (HS). The results obtained can be used in breeding programs to create virus-resistant potato varieties, as well as in fundamental research on the mechanisms of potato resistance to potato virus Y.