Inheritance of resistance to potato viruses Y and A in progeny obtained from potato cultivars containing gene Ry:evidence for a new gene for extreme resistance to PVA.

Extreme resistance in cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) to potato viruses Y and A (PVY and PVA) conditioned by the presence of Ry genes introduced from Solanum stoloniferum was described by Cockerham (1970). Cockerham detailed a number of genes which controlled a variety of reactions, including extreme resistance to both viruses (i.e. little or no visible reaction of plants and no viral replication following graft and manual inoculation) controlled by gene Ry sto. In the present study, cvs 'Pirola' and 'Barbara', which contain a Ry gene, were found to have extreme resistance to PVY isolates from the ordinary (PVY°), veinal necrosis (PVY(N)) and potato tuber necrotic ringspot (PVY(NTN)) subgroups, and PVA. The inheritance of this phenotype was examined in seedling progenies obtained by crossing 'Barbara' and 'Pirola' with susceptible cultivars. Segregation data for resistance to PVY and PVA in a progeny involving cv 'Pirola' best fitted a genetical model of one gene controlling extreme resistance to both PVY and PVA, although the possibility that there are two genes, each controlling resistance to one virus but closely linked, cannot be excluded. Segregation data from progenies involving cv 'Barbara' best fitted a genetical model in which there are two independent genes, one controlling extreme resistance to PVA and PVY and a second gene controlling extreme resistance to PVA but not to PVY. This previously unrecognised gene conferring extreme resistance to PVA only, should be given the notation Ra in keeping with nomenclature used for other resistance genes.