The James Hutton Institute is a global leader in potato research and breeding, pioneering the development of new potato varieties with improved agronomic traits and greater resilience to challenges such as diseases, drought, and extreme temperatures. Their cutting-edge work supports more sustainable and productive potato cultivation worldwide.
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The James Hutton Institute is at the forefront of global scientific research and breeding initiatives focused on developing new potato varieties with valuable agronomic traits and enhanced resilience to stresses such as disease and extreme temperatures.
Potato breeding, however, is a complex and demanding process. Even when parent plants exhibit all the desired characteristics, their offspring often inherit only a portion of these traits. The root of this challenge lies in the genetics of cultivated potatoes, which are typically tetraploid—carrying four copies of each chromosome. This genetic complexity leads to high levels of recombination, making it difficult to predict and control trait inheritance, according to a press release.
To overcome these challenges, researchers are turning to molecular markers—short DNA sequences located at specific points in the genome. These markers serve as indicators, helping breeders determine whether a specific DNA region linked to a desirable trait is present in a plant. Years of research have gone into identifying the genetic foundations of key traits and developing reliable molecular markers that make modern potato breeding more precise and efficient.
“We have harnessed state-of-the-art genomics technologies that enable researchers to analyse each of the four genome copies individually,” Professor Ingo Hein, Head of Potato Genetics at the Hutton, said. “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 of over a million base pairs, and very small ones around 20,000 base pairs.”
This approach has the potential to greatly benefit both farmers and the wider agricultural industry. By harnessing the power of the potato genome and identifying functional resistance genes that defend against pathogens, researchers can speed up the development of new varieties and strengthen crop protection in the face of environmental change.
Importantly, this strategy is not limited to potatoes. With adequate genomic and genetic data, it can be applied to a wide range of crops. The work highlights the vital importance of fundamental research in translating scientific insights into practical solutions—paving the way for more resilient, reliable crops and contributing to long-term food security.
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