Effect of Alternaria solani Exudates on Resistant and Susceptible Potato Cultivars from Two Different pathogen isolates

Early blight of potato, caused by Alternaria solani, is a ubiquitous disease in many countries around the world. Our previous screening of several Iranian potato cultivars found that significant variation in resistance phenotypes exists between two cultivars: resistant 'Diamond' and susceptible 'Granula'. Our previous analysis of five different pathogen isolates also identified varying degrees of aggressiveness regardless of the host cultivar. Here, a bioassay was used to study the role of liquid culture exudates produced in vitro on pathogenicity and elicitation of disease symptomology in seedlings as well as detached leaves. Responses of host genotypes to the exudates of the two A. solani isolates were significantly different. Detached leaves of the resistant cultivar 'Diamond' elicited fewer symptoms to each isolate when compared to the susceptible cultivar 'Granula'. Interestingly, the phytotoxicity effect of the culture filtrate from the more aggressive isolate A was higher than from isolate N suggesting an increased concentration or strength of the toxins produced. Our results are significant because they indicate a correlation between symptoms elicited by A. solani phytotoxins and their aggressiveness on the host.