Potato genome sequenced
3 Aug 2011 by Evoluted New Media
With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, an international consortium have sequenced the genome of the potato, which could lead to improved breeding and ensure food security.
With the global population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, an international consortium have sequenced the genome of the potato, which could lead to improved breeding and ensure food security.
Potatoes are the most important non-grain crop for human consumption, and new information about its genetic makeup will speed up the time consuming process of developing new varieties – which usually takes 10 to 12 years. The Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium (PGSC) hope the new varieties will have improved quality and quantity, nutritional value and resistance to pests and diseases
“An understanding of the genetic blueprint for potato gives us the option of introducing – through breeding programmes – desirable characteristics into existing varieties, such as enhanced pest and disease resistance and improved tuber quality characteristics,” said Dr Glenn Bryan from the James Hutton Institute, who led the UK team.
The UK arm of PGCS – who published their work in Nature – also included scientists from the University of Dundee and Imperial College London. It was funded by the BBSRC, DEFRA, the Potato Council and the Scottish Government.
Each copy of the potato genome consists of 12 chromosomes and has a length of approximately 840 million base pairs, making at a medium-sized plant genome.
“Piecing together the exact DNA sequence of the genome has been a technically demanding task, requiring the expertise of all our collaborators worldwide,” said Dr David Martin, from Dundee.
“We can see for the first time the secrets of the potato genome, and now begins the challenge of analysing them over the coming months and years.”
A high-quality, well-annotated genome sequence will provide a valuable foundation which can be combined with existing knowledge of potato genetics and the continuing advances in analysing which genes are switched on or off and which chemicals are produced when and where.
The PGSC released a draft version of the full potato genome towards the end of 2009, and since then have been refining the assembly and performing analysis for publication.
