Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » Vegetable Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315917
Title: Puno: an attractive region in Peru to conduct genebank-related studies

Author
item DEL RIO, ALFONSO - University Of Wisconsin
item Bamberg, John
item ARCOS, JESUS - Instituto Nacional De Innovacion Agraria (INIA)
item ELLIS, DAVID - International Potato Center
item PALTA, JIWAN - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: American Journal of Potato Research
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2015
Publication Date: 7/19/2015
Citation: Del Rio, A., Bamberg, J.B., Arcos, J., Ellis, D., Palta, J. 2015. Puno: an attractive region in Peru to conduct genebank-related studies. American Journal of Potato Research. Paper No. G47.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The US Potato Genebank (USPG) has a wealth of genetic resources for breeding and research, and has had a major influence on the science and industry. The origin of all USPG germplasm is Latin America, and a sister genebank, the International Potato Center (CIP) is located at Lima. Thus, there has been a special interest in cooperation with Peru. For over 10 years we have been conducting cooperative research on stress resistance. Frost is a common limiting factor in the highlands, and joint work on breeding with tolerant parents has been successful. Calcium has been shown to mitigate effects of stress to substantially improve quality and yield. More recently, we have recognized the Puno region to be a particularly attractive site for cooperative work. Puno has the most potato production in Peru, with 80% cultivation of native potatoes whose market is expanding. The Peruvian program for agriculture, INIA, has a research farm at Puno, a major city with nearby airport at Juliaca, and two close field stations. Puno-INIA has a staff of potato researchers, is also the center of highland breeding, and has a tissue culture collection that supports the seed multiplication program. The region is a high plain at an altitude of nearly 13,000 ft, with large, flat, uniform fields for efficient plot studies. There are regular, widespread frost episodes, and drought, weevil, wart, and late blight have significant impact. Wild potato grows there, and may be under-sampled, perhaps providing a basis for studies on in situ genetic diversity parallel to what has been done by USPG and CIP in the USA. A program for integrated genebank-related work in collecting, preservation, evaluation, and breeding is promising.