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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242388
Title: Comparison of “Remote” Versus “Easy” In Situ Collection Locations for USA Wild Solanum (Potato) Germplasm

Author
item Bamberg, John
item DEL RIO, A - University Of Wisconsin
item FERNANDEZ, C - University Of Wisconsin
item SALAS, A - International Potato Center
item VEGA, S - University Of Wisconsin
item ZORILLA, C - International Potato Center
item ROCA, W - International Potato Center
item TAY, D - International Potato Center

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2010
Publication Date: 6/1/2010
Citation: Bamberg, J.B., Del Rio, A.H., Fernandez, C.J., Salas, A., Vega, S.E., Zorilla, C., Roca, W., Tay, D. 2010. Comparison of “Remote” Versus “Easy” In Situ Collection Locations for USA Wild Solanum (Potato) Germplasm. American Journal of Potato Research. 87:277-284.

Interpretive Summary: Potato breeders and researchers depend on having exotic wild relatives from the genebank to infuse “new blood” into the crop. Since collecting such stocks from the wild requires much time and money, it is important to determine the most efficient way to capture the most genes. One question in this regard is whether “remote” locations that can be reached only by long hikes and camping net more genes than nearby “easy” locations accessible by road. When we compared sets of paired easy and remote collections from three mountain ranges in southeast Arizona with DNA markers, plants from different locations were different, and more unique genes were sometimes captured at the remote location, sometimes at the easy. The practical conclusion is that both types of locations need to be sampled and compared in the lab to identify where the most genetic richness exists for future collecting.

Technical Abstract: A basic question in germplasm collecting is whether the in situ genetic diversity in a given geographic range has been adequately sampled. While one would ideally sample all diverse sites with appropriate habitat, there is usually a practical bias against visiting relatively inaccessible sites. For wild potato in the USA, mountain habitats often include easy access locations (near roads, usually at lower altitudes), and relatively remote locations (usually high altitude crests that can be accessed only by trail hiking and camping). This work used AFLP markers to compare three southeastern Arizona mountain ranges for which multiple “easy” and “remote” Solanum fendleri populations had been collected. Of the total markers detected, 24%, 6% and 3% were unique to the “remote” locations, and 3%, 21% and 34% were unique to “easy” locations. This case study demonstrates that populations at such locations are not identical, but the most unique alleles are sometimes captured at the remote location, sometimes at the easy. The practical conclusion is that both locations need to be sampled and compared empirically in the lab for unique allele richness to identify locations with highest priority for additional collecting.