Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay

Late blight, a destructive disease affecting potatoes, is caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans and remains a critical threat worldwide. The potential for sexual reproduction in production areas near the Peru–Bolivia border remains high due to the historical presence of mating type A2 in Bol...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Izarra, M., Coca-Morante, M., Pérez, W., Sánchez, L., Gamboa, S., Valle, D., Cuarán, V., Guerra-Sierra, B., Kreuze, Jan F.
Format: Preprint
Language:Inglés
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180147
_version_ 1855537827426598912
author Izarra, M.
Coca-Morante, M.
Pérez, W.
Sánchez, L.
Gamboa, S.
Valle, D.
Cuarán, V.
Guerra-Sierra, B.
Kreuze, Jan F.
author_browse Coca-Morante, M.
Cuarán, V.
Gamboa, S.
Guerra-Sierra, B.
Izarra, M.
Kreuze, Jan F.
Pérez, W.
Sánchez, L.
Valle, D.
author_facet Izarra, M.
Coca-Morante, M.
Pérez, W.
Sánchez, L.
Gamboa, S.
Valle, D.
Cuarán, V.
Guerra-Sierra, B.
Kreuze, Jan F.
author_sort Izarra, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Late blight, a destructive disease affecting potatoes, is caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans and remains a critical threat worldwide. The potential for sexual reproduction in production areas near the Peru–Bolivia border remains high due to the historical presence of mating type A2 in Bolivia and the current presence of mating type A1 in Peru. In Ecuador, there has been a past coexistence of A1 (P. infestans) and A2 (P. andina), while in Colombia, P. infestans has mainly exhibited mating type A1. These neighboring countries were compared with strains from Uruguay, which historically had A2 but now shows A1. We examined the genetic structure of South American P. infestans populations using 182 isolates: 97 from Bolivia and southern Peru, 14 from Colombia, 57 from Ecuador (1993–2022), and 14 from Uruguay. The isolates were characterized by clonal lineage, mitochondrial haplotype, and mating type. In Bolivia, only the lineage/haplotype 2A1/Ia was identified, whereas Peru exhibited both 2A1/Ia and EC1/IIa, all of which were mating type A1. Puno was the sole department where both lineages were present. In older Ecuadorian populations, we found US1/Ib and EC1/IIa (P. infestans), as well as EC2/Ic and EC3/Ia (P. andina), while recent populations showed only US1. In Colombia, EC1/IIa and a new lineage, CO4 (Ia), were discovered. In Uruguay, 2A1/Ia was predominant. These results offer updated insights into the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of P. infestans across South America and aid in the development of enhanced late blight management strategies.
format Preprint
id CGSpace180147
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1801472026-01-19T16:52:04Z Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay Izarra, M. Coca-Morante, M. Pérez, W. Sánchez, L. Gamboa, S. Valle, D. Cuarán, V. Guerra-Sierra, B. Kreuze, Jan F. phytophthora infestans potatoes genetic diversity (resource) plant diseases Late blight, a destructive disease affecting potatoes, is caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans and remains a critical threat worldwide. The potential for sexual reproduction in production areas near the Peru–Bolivia border remains high due to the historical presence of mating type A2 in Bolivia and the current presence of mating type A1 in Peru. In Ecuador, there has been a past coexistence of A1 (P. infestans) and A2 (P. andina), while in Colombia, P. infestans has mainly exhibited mating type A1. These neighboring countries were compared with strains from Uruguay, which historically had A2 but now shows A1. We examined the genetic structure of South American P. infestans populations using 182 isolates: 97 from Bolivia and southern Peru, 14 from Colombia, 57 from Ecuador (1993–2022), and 14 from Uruguay. The isolates were characterized by clonal lineage, mitochondrial haplotype, and mating type. In Bolivia, only the lineage/haplotype 2A1/Ia was identified, whereas Peru exhibited both 2A1/Ia and EC1/IIa, all of which were mating type A1. Puno was the sole department where both lineages were present. In older Ecuadorian populations, we found US1/Ib and EC1/IIa (P. infestans), as well as EC2/Ic and EC3/Ia (P. andina), while recent populations showed only US1. In Colombia, EC1/IIa and a new lineage, CO4 (Ia), were discovered. In Uruguay, 2A1/Ia was predominant. These results offer updated insights into the genetic diversity and geographic distribution of P. infestans across South America and aid in the development of enhanced late blight management strategies. 2026-01 2026-01-19T16:49:57Z 2026-01-19T16:49:57Z Preprint https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180147 en Open Access Izarra, M.; Coca-Morante, M.; Pérez, W.; Sánchez, L.; Gamboa, S.; Valle, D.; Cuarán, V.; Guerra-Sierra, B.; Kreuze, J. 2026. Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay (Preprint). bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.14.699522
spellingShingle phytophthora infestans
potatoes
genetic diversity (resource)
plant diseases
Izarra, M.
Coca-Morante, M.
Pérez, W.
Sánchez, L.
Gamboa, S.
Valle, D.
Cuarán, V.
Guerra-Sierra, B.
Kreuze, Jan F.
Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title_full Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title_fullStr Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title_full_unstemmed Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title_short Population structure of Phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay
title_sort population structure of phytophthora infestans collected from potatoes in ecuador colombia peru bolivia and uruguay
topic phytophthora infestans
potatoes
genetic diversity (resource)
plant diseases
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180147
work_keys_str_mv AT izarram populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT cocamorantem populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT perezw populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT sanchezl populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT gamboas populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT valled populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT cuaranv populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT guerrasierrab populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay
AT kreuzejanf populationstructureofphytophthorainfestanscollectedfrompotatoesinecuadorcolombiaperuboliviaanduruguay