ARS | Publication request: Regulation of cold-induced sweetening in potatoes and markers for fast-track new variety development

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2011
Publication Date: August 6, 2011
Citation: Gupta, S.K., Brandt, T., Glynn, M.T., Sayre, R.R., Suttle, J.C. 2011. Regulation of cold-induced sweetening in potatoes and markers for fast-track new variety development [abstract.] Plant Biology 2011. Abstract #P08007. Available: http://abstracts.aspb.org/pb2011/public/P08/P08007.html.

Technical Abstract: Potato breeding is a tedious, time consuming process. With the growing requirements of the potato processing industry for new potato varieties, there is need for effective tools to speed-up new variety development. The purpose of this study was to understand the enzymatic regulation of cold-induced sweetening (CIS) and develop cost effective and reliable tools for the development of new potato varieties that are resistant to CIS. We studied two key enzymes in the hexogenesis pathway and explored their relationship with reducing sugar accumulation and processing quality. The study was conducted for four years (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11). Thirty advanced potato breeding clones were stored at 42°F storage temperature for six months. The clones were analyzed for total acid invertase activity, in presence of A-II isozymes of UGPase, total glucose and sucrose concentration and chip color. All the clones were divided into Class A (best resistance to CIS), Class B (intermediate resistance to CIS) and Class C (very low or no resistance to CIS). Clones with low acid invertase activity showed low reducing sugar accumulation and therefore better processing quality (chip color). There was year to year variation in terms of acid invertase activity but the CIS class did not change over years. Data will be presented to show that these biochemical markers are reliable and could be used as a screening tool for CIS to select promising potato clones. (Poster, Category – P08 – Cold Stress)