| Abstract Detail
Conference Wide Winfield, Mark [1], van der Graaf, Pieter [2], Reid, Alex [2], Saddler, Gerry [2], Bryan, Glenn [3]. Genetic diversity in Solanum dulcamara populations along Scottish rivers. SOLANUM dulcamara (bittersweet), a common weed with wide distribution in the U.K., is important for potato production because it acts as a host for Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal bacterium of brown rot. In contrast to the situation in England, the bacterium has never been found in Scottish potatoes. However, the detection of R. solanacearum in a small river, Lunan Burn, in one of Scotland’s main potato growing regions caused much concern. As a control measure, bittersweet along this stream was largely eradicated. Such a programme, if practised more widely, could lead to a dramatic reduction in genetic diversity of this native U.K. plant. It is timely, therefore, to assess the level and distribution of genetic diversity in S. dulcamara in Britain. A study was set up to determine the distribution of bittersweet along all rivers where it could present a threat to the Scottish potato industry; i.e., where infected river water might be used to irrigate potato fields. Bittersweet was found at only five of the 18 rivers searched: samples were collected from all of these. Additionally, samples were collected, more than 400 miles to the south, along the Thames in Oxfordshire, where infected population of bittersweet are known to occur. Diversity analysis was performed using AFLPs and SSRs. In the case of the latter, primer pairs developed for potato were applied. We see a marked contrast between the Lunan Burn population that is recovering from human eradication and one that has not been targeted by man.
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1 - Scottish Crop Research Institute, Genetics Programme, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK
2 - Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, 1 Roddinglaw Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9FJ, U.K.
3 - Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK
Keywords:
diversity
AFLPs
SSRs
Solanum dulcamara.
Session: Poster-117
Location: Ballroom CD/Monona Terrace
Date: Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
Time: 8:00 AM
Abstract ID:215 |
