In this study we investigated the genotypic diversity and the migration patterns of Phytophthora infestans in the Nordic countries. Isolates of P. infestans from outbreaks in 43 fields sampled in 2008 were collected using stratified sampling with country, field, and disease foci as the different strata. Microsatellites were used as markers to determine the genotypic variation in the sampled material. The results show a high genotypic variation of P. infestans in the Nordic countries with most of the genotypes found only once among the collected isolates. The major part of the genotypic variation was observed within the fields, with low differentiation between the fields. The observed low association of alleles among loci is consistent with frequent sexual reproduction of P. infestans in the Nordic countries. Coalescence analyses did not support a single common population for the four countries, thus indicating some degree of geographic differentiation. The analyses of migration patterns showed differing levels of gene flow among the Nordic countries. No correlation between migration rates and geographical distance could be seen. This could be explained by different degrees of genetic similarity between the pathogen populations in the different countries.

Resistance to was evaluated histologically using leaves of potato cultivars with different levels of general resistance. Host genotype did not influence the preinfectional processes of encysted zoospores, e.g. frequency of germination, length of germ tubes, or frequency of formation of appressoria. Most of the appressoria on the leaf surface were attached to epidermal cells, but they were also found on cells of the stomatal complexes, on hairs and glands, and on cells adjacent to vascular tissue. There were significant differences between cultivars in the extension of intercellular hyphal growth and branching 24 and 48 h after inoculation, the differences increasing with time. In contrast to cv. Bintje, the hyphae in the most resistant cultivar Matilda were mostly confined to the epidermal and palisade cells even 48 h after infection, the number of hyphae per section was much lower, and sporulation capacity was reduced.

Resistance toPhytophthora infestans was evaluated histologically using leaves of potato cultivars with different levels of general resistance. Host genotype did not influence the preinfectional processes of encysted zoospores, e.g. frequency of germination, length of germ tubes, or frequency of formation of appressoria. Most of the appressoria on the leaf surface were attached to epidermal cells, but they were also found on cells of the stomatal complexes, on hairs and glands, and on cells adjacent to vascular tissue. There were significant differences between cultivars in the extension of intercellular hyphal growth and branching 24 and 48 h after inoculation, the differences increasing with time. In contrast to cv. Bintje, the hyphae in the most resistant cultivar Matilda were mostly confined to the epidermal and palisade cells even 48 h after infection, the number of hyphae per section was much lower, and sporulation capacity was reduced.