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Published on: March 20, 2019
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QTL analysis of potato tuber dormancy
J H van den Berg1, E E Ewing, R L Plaisted
1Department of Fruit and Vegetable Science, Cornell University, 134 Plant Science Building, 14853-5908, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Summary
Breeding potatoes for long tuber dormancy is crucial due to pesticide concerns. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified nine chromosomes influencing potato dormancy, with wild alleles promoting longer dormancy.
Area of Science:
- Plant genetics and breeding
- Agricultural science
- Crop improvement
Background:
- Public concern over pesticide use necessitates alternatives to chemical sprout inhibitors.
- Breeding potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for natural long tuber dormancy is a desirable trait.
- Understanding the genetic basis of tuber dormancy is key for developing improved potato varieties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the genetic complexity of potato tuber dormancy using quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis.
- To investigate the role of wild relatives, specifically Solanum berthaultii, in conferring long tuber dormancy.
- To identify specific QTLs and their effects on dormancy in potato.
Main Methods:
- Performed QTL analyses in reciprocal backcrosses between Solanum tuberosum and Solanum berthaultii.
- Monitored RFLP alleles segregating from recurrent parents and the interspecific hybrid in two segregating progenies.
- Analyzed additive and epistatic effects of dormancy QTLs on phenotypic variance.
Main Results:
- Detected QTLs on nine chromosomes affecting potato tuber dormancy, with significant epistatic interactions.
- Alleles from the wild parent, S. berthaultii, promoted dormancy, particularly at a QTL on chromosome 2.
- Additive effects explained 48% of variance in the backcross to S. berthaultii (BCB), while epistasis added 4%; in the backcross to S. tuberosum (BCT), additive effects explained 16% and epistasis an additional 24%.
Conclusions:
- Wild potato species possess valuable genetic resources for enhancing tuber dormancy in cultivated potatoes.
- Multiple QTLs, influenced by both additive and epistatic effects, control potato tuber dormancy.
- At least three dormancy QTLs are linked to markers associated with tuberization, suggesting a complex genetic architecture.
