Three species of potato tuber moths, Tecia solanivora Povolny, Symmetrischema tangolias Gyen, and Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (all Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), attack potato plants in the highlands of Ecuador and cause great economic losses. To understand their ecology and to develop precise integrated pest management strategies, a description of the molecular identification of each species and genetic diversity within populations is needed. In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity of a total of 112 moth samples of these 3 distinct species. Samples were collected from the 4 central provinces (Bolívar, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Tungurahua) in the Ecuadorian highlands, where potato is a major crop for food security. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing, we compared mitochondrial gene sequences among conspecific moth samples. Each of the 3 species exhibited different patterns regarding genetic diversity; more than 1 haplotype was present in P. operculella and S. tangolias, whereas all T. solanivora samples were found to be genetically identical. This initial effort of molecular characterization of the potato tuber moths will facilitate identifying incursion and potential migration route of Gelechiidae species as well as prevention of the pest outbreaks.

Streptomyces scabies is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes common scab disease to several crops, particularly in the potato. It is a soil borne pathogen, a very devastating scab pathogen and difficult to manage in the field. Streptomyces has several species that cause common scab such as S. scabiei, S. acidiscabies, S. europaeiscabiei, S. luridiscabiei, S. niveiscabiei, S. puniciscabiei, S. reticuliscabiei, S. stelliscabiei, S. turgidiscabies, S. ipomoeae. Common scab disease harmfully affects potato economic and market value due to the presence of black spots on the tuber. Owing to its genetic diversity and pathogenicity, the determination of pathogen presence in potato fields is still challenging. In this study, S. scabies genetic diversity was measured by surveying five potato-growing areas of Pakistan during the growing season 2019. A total of 50 Streptomyces isolates, including S. scabies, S. acidiscabies, S. griseoflavus were isolated and identified based on morphologic, biochemical and molecular analysis. Virulent confirmation assays confirmed ten virulent strains of Streptomyces spp. On the potato cultivars Cardinal and Santee. Among the Streptomyces species, S. scabies showed the highest scab index, followed by S. acidiscabies and S. griseoflavus by exhibiting the scab-like lesions on potato tubers. Ten potato cultivars were screened against these virulent isolates of Streptomyces. The Faisalabad white variety showed the highest scab index followed By Cardinal, Tourag, Kuroda, Santee, Lady Rosetta, Asterix, Diamant, Faisalabad red and Sadaf. Moreover, genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Streptomyces spp. on potato tubers were also likely diverse in different geographical regions and also potato cultivars. This study represents a contribution to understanding the local interaction between potatoes and Streptomyces spp. in Pakistan. It will aid in supporting a solution for the management of this pathogen around the world.

Streptomyces scabies is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes common scab disease to several crops, particularly in the potato. It is a soil borne pathogen, a very devastating scab pathogen and difficult to manage in the field. Streptomyces has several species that cause common scab such as S. scabiei, S. acidiscabies, S. europaeiscabiei, S. luridiscabiei, S. niveiscabiei, S. puniciscabiei, S. reticuliscabiei, S. stelliscabiei, S. turgidiscabies, S. ipomoeae. Common scab disease harmfully affects potato economic and market value due to the presence of black spots on the tuber. Owing to its genetic diversity and pathogenicity, the determination of pathogen presence in potato fields is still challenging. In this study, S. scabies genetic diversity was measured by surveying five potato-growing areas of Pakistan during the growing season 2019. A total of 50 Streptomyces isolates, including S. scabies, S. acidiscabies, S. griseoflavus were isolated and identified based on morphologic, biochemical and molecular analysis. Virulent confirmation assays confirmed ten virulent strains of Streptomyces spp. On the potato cultivars Cardinal and Santee. Among the Streptomyces species, S. scabies showed the highest scab index, followed by S. acidiscabies and S. griseoflavus by exhibiting the scab-like lesions on potato tubers. Ten potato cultivars were screened against these virulent isolates of Streptomyces. The Faisalabad white variety showed the highest scab index followed By Cardinal, Tourag, Kuroda, Santee, Lady Rosetta, Asterix, Diamant, Faisalabad red and Sadaf. Moreover, genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Streptomyces spp. on potato tubers were also likely diverse in different geographical regions and also potato cultivars. This study represents a contribution to understanding the local interaction between potatoes and Streptomyces spp. in Pakistan. It will aid in supporting a solution for the management of this pathogen around the world.

The diversity of potato genetic resources in the VIR genebank harbors one of the world’s first collections of primitive cultivated species. These accessions are native potato varieties cultivated by the indigenous population of South America. The oldest accessions in the collection are traced back to 1927. Approximately one fifth of the collection (106 accessions out of 573) is the unique material procured by VIR’s collecting missions to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. According to S. Bukasov’s potato classification, the diversity of South American highland potatoes explored by VIR’s collectors belongs to spp. Solanum ajanhuiri Juz. et Buk., S. × chaucha Juz. et Buk., S. mammilliferum Juz. et Buk., S. phureja Juz. et Buk., S. rybinii Juz. et Buk., S. goniocalyx Juz. et Buk., S. stenotomum Juz. et Buk., S. tenuifilamentum Juz. et Buk., S.× juzepczukii Buk., and S. × curtilobum Juz. et Buk. Within this group of species, S. × ajanhuiri, S. phureja and S. stenostomum are the closest in their characteristics to ancient domesticated forms of tuber-bearing Solanum spp. This publication is an analytical review of the current composition of the primitive cultivated potato species collection and the results of its earlier studies. Ecogeographic descriptions of the sites native for cultivated potatoes and information on the sources of the accessions are presented. A large-scale evaluation of primitive cultivated potato accessions by a set of characters, carried out in field and laboratory experiments, uncovers their breeding potential and serves as the primary information platform for further indepth research. Studying S. phureja and closely related cultivated potato species is important for finding solutions of fundamental problems in plant biology. The data arrays accumulated today would facilitate targeted selection among accessions to identify most promising ones for molecular genetic studies into the gene pool diversity of potato species.

The diversity of potato genetic resources in the VIR genebank harbors one of the world’s first collections of primitive cultivated species. These accessions are native potato varieties cultivated by the indigenous population of South America. The oldest accessions in the collection are traced back to 1927. Approximately one fifth of the collection (106 accessions out of 573) is the unique material procured by VIR’s collecting missions to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. According to S. Bukasov’s potato classification, the diversity of South American highland potatoes explored by VIR’s collectors belongs to spp. Solanum ajanhuiri Juz. et Buk., S. × chaucha Juz. et Buk., S. mammilliferum Juz. et Buk., S. phureja Juz. et Buk., S. rybinii Juz. et Buk., S. goniocalyx Juz. et Buk., S. stenotomum Juz. et Buk., S. tenuifilamentum Juz. et Buk., S.× juzepczukii Buk., and S. × curtilobum Juz. et Buk. Within this group of species, S. × ajanhuiri, S. phureja and S. stenostomum are the closest in their characteristics to ancient domesticated forms of tuber-bearing Solanum spp. This publication is an analytical review of the current composition of the primitive cultivated potato species collection and the results of its earlier studies. Ecogeographic descriptions of the sites native for cultivated potatoes and information on the sources of the accessions are presented. A large-scale evaluation of primitive cultivated potato accessions by a set of characters, carried out in field and laboratory experiments, uncovers their breeding potential and serves as the primary information platform for further indepth research. Studying S. phureja and closely related cultivated potato species is important for finding solutions of fundamental problems in plant biology. The data arrays accumulated today would facilitate targeted selection among accessions to identify most promising ones for molecular genetic studies into the gene pool diversity of potato species.