Location: Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-21000-273-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Jul 1, 2013
End Date: Apr 17, 2018
Objective:
Objective 1: Develop and release improved potato germplasm and varieties with disease resistance to foliar and soil-borne pathogens, particularly for late blight and common scab.
Sub-objective 1.A. Improve levels of resistance to foliar late blight in 2x and 4x populations.
Sub-objective 1.B. Locate unique inhibitor proteins for late blight resistance in phu-stn (Solanium phureja-Solanium stenotomum).
Sub-objective 1.C. Improve 4x populations for resistance to common scab.
Objective 2: Evaluate novel methods for evaluating potato germplasm for greater root biomass and enhanced capacity for nitrogen uptake efficiency.
Objective 3: Develop potato germplasm and varieties with improved processing qualities suited for chipping directly from the field and from storage.
Sub-objective 3.A: Identify molecular markers associated with processing directly from the field and from storage.
Sub-objective 3.B. Improve 4x and 2x germplasm for chipping directly from the field and from storage.
Objective 4: Increase the nutritional value of potato, particularly for carotenoid content, and release germplasm or finished varieties.
Approach:
Genetic sources of resistance to late blight and common scab will be evaluated for resistance in diseased plots. Resistant selections will be intercrossed to improve disease resistance, and crossed with selections with processing potential to combine resistance with processing potential; resultant progeny will be evaluated for disease resistance, processing potential, and other important marketing traits. Late blight resistant selections will be screened to identify unique xyloglucanase specific endoglucanase inhibitor proteins involved in resistance. Genetic materials will be evaluated for nitrogen uptake efficiency via tissue culture, stem cuttings, potted plants in the greenhouse, and whole plants grown in the field to develop a rapid throughput screening method. Genotypic data (single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) and phenotypic data (yield, specific gravity, tuber shape, chip color, disease resistance) generated for several potato populations via the SolCap Project will be analyzed to identify molecular markers associated with processing traits and disease resistance. Diploid potatoes with high lutein and high zeaxanthin content will be crossed with tetraploids to improve carotenoid levels in tetraploid potato germplasm and combine different tuber skin colors with more intense yellow-fleshed tubers.
