News Potatoes
Breakthrough in deciphering complex potato genome
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), together with potato breeder Solynta, have published the most complete genome sequence for potatoes ever. A breakthrough, because the potato is not easy to decipher.
Reading the genome structure is difficult, because the regular potato consists of four genomes. This makes it complicated to determine the position of the genes. A diploid full-fledged potato plant with only one genome was used for this research. That made it easier to read and connect the DNA base sequence. The plant comes from Solynta's hybrid breeding program.
From 125.000 to 185 pieces
Richard Visser, professor of Plant Distribution at WUR, expects the new decipherment to lead to more efficient and faster potato breeding. “The previous sequence consisted of about 125.000 small pieces. This new genome has only 185 large pieces. Moreover, no wild variant of the potato has now been used, but regular plant material.”
“With this sequence, we can more quickly describe and cross-breed new traits”, continues Pim Lindhout, R&D director of Solynta. “I am convinced that this will help us achieve sustainable potato cultivation faster.”
Available to third parties
What is unique is that both the sequence and the plant material (under certain conditions) available be submitted for examination by third parties. In the future, according to the researchers, this could yield a potato that is more resistant to heat or drought, or more resistant to diseases.
Jeanette Pennings
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