Gene flow between potato cultivars under experimental field condition in Argentina

CAPURRO, M; CAMADRO, E.L.; MASUELLI, R. W.

Potato Research

Springer Netherlands

Año: 2014 p. 111 - 122

0014-3065

Wild and cultivated potatoes form poyploid series with 2n=2x to 2n= 6x (x=12). In nature, they are sepated by external and/or internal hybridization barriers that, when incomplete, provide opportunities for gene flow and introgression. Isolation distances estimated in one environment are not necessary extrapolable. As a starting point for pollen-mediated gene flow risk assessment in potatoes, an experiment was set up in the field, with two pollen-pistil compatible tetraploid commercial cultivars with differential molecular markers patterns. The field design consisted of a 10 x 10 m central square with the pollen donor, surrounded by circles with a male sterile pollen receptor, set every 10 m up to 40 m. The crop was managed as a perennial and data was recorded over two years. Seeded berries were obtained in both years at 30 and 40 m away from the center; all of them contained hybrid seeds as revealed by electrophoretic profiles.We consider that a minimal required isolation distance of 100 m or more would be more suitable for preventing undesirable gene flow in the area .