Our Potato Pathology & Genomics Program focuses on the genetics and genomics of potato plant resistances and important potato disease organisms. Using molecular and applied research techniques, we are identifying, characterizing, isolating, and deploying previously unknown or under-utilized sources of natural genetic resistance. Utilizing wild potato germplasm, we aim for long-term solutions to important potato diseases, while reducing grower and environmental costs associated with frequent pesticide applications. Current research includes the development of novel genomics tools for potato and related wild species, including genome-wide mapping methods for potato disease resistance genes and "allelic mining" at important disease resistance loci, screening wild potato species for resistance to late blight and Verticillium wilt, and evaluation of in vitro screening procedures for late blight.

Recent Publications:

Mazourek, M., E. Cirulli, S.M. Collier, L.G. Landry, B.-C. Kang, E.A. Quirin, J.M. Bradeen, P. Moffett, and M. Jahn. 2009. The fractionated orthology of Bs2 and Rx/Gpa2 and the comparative genomics model of disease resistance in the Solanaceae. Genetics 182:1351-1364.

Bradeen, J.M., M. Iorizzo, D.S. Mollov, J. Raasch, L. Colton Kramer, B.P. Millett, S. Austin-Phillips, J. Jiang, and D. Carputo. 2009. Higher copy numbers of the potato RB transgene correspond to enhanced transcript and late blight resistance levels. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22: 437-446.

Millett, B.P., D.S. Mollov, M. Iorizzo, D. Carputo, and J.M. Bradeen. 2009. Changes in disease resistance phenotypes associated with plant physiological age are not caused by variation in R gene transcript abundance. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22: 362-368.

Bradeen, J.M., D. Carputo, and D.S. Douches 2008. Potato In: Kole, C. and Hall, T.C. (eds.) Transgenic Sugar, Tuber and Fiber Crops Vol. 7. (Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell). 117-156.

Bradeen, J.M. and D.S. Mollov. 2007. Herbicide tolerance in primitive diploid potato species comprising superseries Stellata: towards establishment of seedling cultivation conditions for field evaluations. American Journal of Potato Research. 84: 415-424.

Aversano, R., M.R. Ercolano, L. Frusciante, L. Monti, J.M. Bradeen, G. Cristinzio, A. Zoina, N. Greco, S. Vitale, and D. Carputo. 2007. Resistance traits and AFLP characterization of diploid primitive tuber-bearing potatoes. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 54: 1797-1806.

Millett, B.P., and J.M. Bradeen. 2007. Development of allele-specific PCR and RT–PCR assays for clustered resistance genes using a potato late blight resistance transgene as a model. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 114: 501-513.

Bradeen, J.M., and P.W. Simon. 2007. Carrot. In: C. Kole (ed.) Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. pp. 161-184.

Whitaker, V.M., J.M. Bradeen, and S.C. Hokanson. 2007. Distribution of rose black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) genetic diversity in eastern North America using amplified fragment length polymorphism and implications for resistance breeding. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 132:534-540.

Whitaker, V.M., K. Zuzek, S.C. Hokanson, and J.M. Bradeen. 2007. Culturing and long-term storage of virulent races of the rose blackspot pathogen, Diplocarpon rosae Wolf. Acta Horticulturae 751:199-205.

Zlesak, D.C., J.M. Bradeen, and N.O. Anderson. 2007. The use of AFLP markers to resolve clonal origin and integrity in rose, hydrangea, and lily. Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 1:51-60.

Sanchez, M. J. and J. M. Bradeen. 2006. Towards efficient isolation of R gene orthologs from multiple genotypes: optimization of Long Range-PCR. Molecular Breeding. 17:137-148.

Song, J.*, J. M. Bradeen*, S. K. Naess, J. A. Raasch, S. M. Wielgus, G. T. Haberlach, J. Liu, H. Kuang, S. Austin-Phillips, C. R. Buell, J. P. Helgeson, and J. Jiang. 2003. Gene RB cloned from Solanum bulbocastanum confers broad spectrum resistance to potato late blight. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 100:9128-9133. *J. Song and J. M. Bradeen contributed equally to this work and are considered “co-first authors”.

Bradeen, J. M., S. K. Naess, J. Song, G. T. Haberlach, S. M. Wielgus, C. R. Buell, J. Jiang, and J. P. Helgeson. 2003. Concomitant reiterative BAC walking and fine genetic mapping enable physical map development for the broad-spectrum late blight resistance region, RB. Molecular Genetics and Genomics. 269:603-611.

Song, J., J. M. Bradeen, S. K. Naess, J. P. Helgeson, and J. Jiang. 2003. BIBAC and TAC clones containing potato genomic DNA fragments larger than 100 kb are not stable in Agrobacterium. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 107:958-964.