A confined trial of late blight resistant (LBR) potato at the IndonesianVegetable Research Institute (IVEGRI) showed that the transgenic potato varieties developed by the University of Wisconsin are resistant to natural infestation of the Indonesian race of Phytophthora infestans, the causalorganism of the blight disease.

There were 13 potato genotypes used in the confined trial, which include susceptible potato cultivars that were grown as border rows. These cultivars were planted between plots and surrounding the main plot. Insecticides were applied on the field when necessary to protect against insect infestation. No fungicide was used during the confined trial.

All plants of the susceptible cultivars succumbed to the disease during the confined trial. These cultivars (Atlantic, Granola, Katahdin control, and Merbabu) were severely infected two months after planting (MAP). Among the resistant genotypes, J103K7 was observed to be more resistant than SP951 and SP904. Among the transgenic lines, SP951 is more resistant than SP904. The wild species (Solanum bubocastanum) PT29, which is the source of resistance gene (RB gene) on SP951 and SP904, was confirmed to be the most resistant to P. infestans from Lembang.

Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Director of ABSPII visited the confined trial in February, together with members of the Indonesian Biosafety and Food Safety Technical Team (IBFSTT). The LBR Potato breeding team followed the requirements specified by the IBFSTT such as provisions for genetic and material confinement which aim to prevent gene flow and LBR potato material going out of the confined trial. (M Herman)

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