AAFC research proving diploid breeding is more than just small potatoes
AAFC 研究证明二倍体育种不只是小土豆
- 关键词：
- 来源：
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
- 类型：
- 前沿资讯
- 语种：
- 英语
- 原文发布日期：
- 2025-02-26
- 摘要：
- Diploid potatoes are quickly becoming the stud spuds for breeding new commercial potato varieties. Wild diploid potatoes have 2 copies of each chromosome in their DNA, unlike more traditional tetraploid potatoes, like Russet Burbank, which have 4 copies of each chromosome. Fewer chromosomes make diploid genetics easier to work with for breeders. First domesticated in the Andes of South America, diploid potatoes are often a little smaller in size than their tetraploid cousins. Their untapped genetic potential is being harnessed by geneticists and breeders to develop new diploid potato varieties for farmers. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientist Dr. Bourlaye Fofana is leading the pre-breeding charge for diploid potatoes. After successfully pinpointing drought resistant and early maturing genes in diploid potatoes, he’s moved onto to his next foe — common scab disease. Common scab is a widespread issue that can lead to major economic losses for producers across Canada. Lost profits from waste occur when more than 5% of a potato is affected by unsightly common scab, which means they cannot be sold to the fresh vegetable market. Also, the lesions make potatoes difficult to peel, resulting in waste and lost profits in the chip and fry markets. Common scab resistant potato varieties are scarce, so developing potato varieties with resistance is vital for the industry. Wild diploid potatoes have 2 copies of each chromosome in their DNA make-up (genome), unlike more traditional tetraploid potatoes, like Russet Burbank, which have 4 copies of each chromosome. Fewer chromosomes make diploid genetics easier to work with and their untapped genetic potential is being harnessed by geneticists and breeders to develop new diploid potato varieties for farmers. Dr. Bourlaye Fofana, along with other AAFC researchers in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Kentville, Nova Scotia, as well as former AAFC student Dr. Braulio Soto-Cerda, now at the Universidad Católica de Temuco in Chile, evaluated 384 diploid potato clones for resistance to common scab disease. Of the 384 diploid clones, the group found 61 that are tolerant or resistant to common scab disease based on the percentage of the surface area of the potato covered by common scab, the severity of common scab, and the incidence of common scab. The 61 varieties will now be evaluated further for yield and quality as well as tested in larger commercial field plots to see how they perform in settings similar to farms.
- 所属专题：
- 177
