The James Hutton Institute leads global efforts in scientific research and breeding programmes focused on developing new potato varieties with desirable agronomic traits and enhanced resilience to environmental stresses such as extreme temperatures and diseases.
Breeding potatoes is a complex process. While desired traits may be present in parent plants, their offspring often inherit only a few of these traits. This difficulty stems from the fact that cultivated potatoes are typically tetraploid, meaning they carry four copies of their genome. These copies can recombine freely, complicating the inheritance of specific traits.
To address this, researchers use molecular markers—specific DNA sequences or variations located at defined sites in the genome. These markers act as beacons, enabling breeders to determine whether a DNA segment responsible for a particular trait is present or absent. Extensive research has been conducted to identify the genetic basis of key traits and develop informative molecular markers from this knowledge.
Professor Ingo Hein, Head of Potato Genetics at the Hutton, explained:
"We have harnessed state-of-the-art genomics technologies that enable researchers to analyse each of the four genome copies individually. This allows us to precisely tag only the beneficial DNA segment—known as a haplotype."
"By using a minimum sequence representation of the entire potato genome, which, at four times 840 million base pairs, is considerable in size, we can reliably detect the presence or absence of the specific DNA region associated with valuable traits. Our work has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach for both large genomic regions (over a million base pairs) and small ones (around 20,000 base pairs)."
Professor Colin Campbell of the James Hutton Institute added:
"This approach will have a huge impact on farmers and the industry. By leveraging the potato genome and tagging functional resistance genes that protect crops from pathogens, we can significantly accelerate the breeding of new varieties and enhance crop protection in a changing environment."
Importantly, this work is not limited to potatoes. The approach can be adapted to any crop, provided there is sufficient genomic and genetic information. It underscores the vital role of fundamental research in translating scientific advancements into sustainable crop production, ultimately supporting the development of reliable, resilient crops and contributing to global food security.
For more information:
Matteo Bell
The James Hutton Institute
Tel: +44 (0) 7494 422 228
Email: [email protected]
www.hutton.ac.uk