Improving cold storage and processing traits in potato through targeted gene knockout.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Food Science

Background:

• Cold storage of potatoes increases reducing sugars, leading to undesirable browning and acrylamide formation during processing.
• The vacuolar invertase gene (VInv) plays a key role in sucrose breakdown and subsequent sugar accumulation in potato tubers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) for efficient gene knockout of VInv in a commercial potato variety.
• To assess the impact of VInv knockout on reducing sugar levels and acrylamide formation in potato tubers.

Main Methods:

• TALENs were employed to create mutations in the VInv gene in the Ranger Russet potato variety.
• Gene editing efficiency was evaluated by analyzing VInv allele mutations and TALEN DNA integration.
• Biochemical analysis of tubers and processed potato chips was conducted to measure sugar content and acrylamide levels.

Main Results:

• Eighteen modified potato plant lines were generated, with five exhibiting complete VInv knockout.
• Tubers from VInv-knockout plants showed undetectable levels of reducing sugars.
• Processed potato chips from these tubers had reduced acrylamide content and lighter color.
• Seven lines were free of TALEN DNA insertions, indicating successful gene editing without foreign DNA integration.

Conclusions:

• TALENs offer a rapid and effective method for trait improvement in commercially relevant autotetraploid potato varieties.
• Complete VInv knockout is a viable strategy to mitigate sugar accumulation and reduce acrylamide formation in potatoes.
• This approach provides a promising framework for developing potatoes with enhanced processing quality and reduced health risks.