Resilient potato

By developing more resilient potato varieties, we aim to minimize yield variability. This would improve the utilization of arable land while also making farming economics more predictable for growers. In the long term, this project could serve as a model for understanding similar mechanisms in other crops where gene editing and field trials are not yet as effective as they are for potatoes.

The vision for the project is to validate a mechanism for developing elite potato genotypes that demonstrate greater resistance to both abiotic and biotic stresses compared to the potato varieties currently available on the market.

The researchers involved in this project have previously, as part of their foundational research efforts, identified a gene they call Parakletos. Knocking out the function of this gene through genome editing has been shown to significantly enhance the potato plants' overall resilience.

In this SLU Grogrund project “Resilient Potato,” the primary validation work involves repeated field trials with various potato varieties, all gene edited in the same gene. These trials will be conducted at multiple locations, with conditions varying in abiotic factors (primarily soil water availability) and biotic pressures.