BC1 and F1 Progeny from Solanum × michoacanum (+) S. tuberosum Somatic Hybrids, Autofused 4× S. michoacanum and Cultivated Potato

Solanum × michoacanum (mch) is a valuable source of resistance to Phytophthora infestans and has not been used in potato breeding due to crossing barriers with S. tuberosum. Somatic hybridization followed by backcrossing is a strategy for introgression of important traits from wild potato species sexually isolated from S. tuberosum. Tetraploid somatic hybrids Solanum × michoacanum (+) S. tuberosum [mch (+) tbr] and autofused 4× mch lines were crossed to several potato cultivars as male and female parents. Our results indicate that resistance against late blight, originating from mch (+) tbr somatic hybrids and autofused 4× mch lines can be transferred to cultivated potato by sexual crossing. Viable and fertile progeny was obtained providing a route to using mch as a source of resistance to P. infestans in potato breeding.