Evaluation of Potato Cultivars for Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum under

In this research resistance of thirteen commercial potato cultivars to R. solanacearum was studied under in vitro and greenhouse conditions and the efficiency of these two techniques were compared. Cultivars Picaso, Raja, Santana, Agria, Herta, Marfona, Diamont, Sante, Milova and Phiana showed different degrees of susceptibility to R. solanacearum under both conditions. Under in vitro conditions cultivars Casmus, Els and Bolesta showed no disease symptoms while pathogen was detected in these cultivars. Under greenhouse conditions cultivar Casmus also showed no symptom but R. solanacearum was detected in its tissues. Cultivars Els and Bolesta which were phenotipically resistant, were assessed positive for R. solanacearum infection under in vitro conditions. Our results showed that resistance evaluation under in vitro and greenhouse conditions were not significantly different. Therefore, the in vitro technique developed in this research is a reliable, cost effective and a quick method for evaluating resistance against R. solanacearum in potato plants.