Potato Genome to Revolutionise Breeding and Ensure Security

An international team of scientists – led in the UK by researchers at The James Hutton Institute in Scotland – have succeeded in mapping the genome of the potato, the first major UK crop plant to be fully sequenced.

UK partners included the University of Dundee and Imperial College London. The achievement holds great promise for speeding up the traditionally time-consuming process of developing new potato varieties. At the moment it can take 10 to 12 years to breed a new variety.

New types of potato could help to ensure future food security because of improved yield, quality, nutritional value, and resistance to pests and diseases.

Chief executive of The James Hutton Institute, Professor Iain Gordon, said: "This achievement is an exciting day for us and the result of many years of hard work by our team in Dundee.

"Potato is one of the top staple foods in the world and the most important non-grain crop for human consumption, particularly in developing countries, which now account for more than half of the global harvest.

"The potato's ease of cultivation and high energy content have made it a valuable cash crop for millions of farmers.

"With global population forecast to reach nine billion by 2050, there will be many more mouths to feed and the genome sequence will allow scientists and breeders to increase the efficiency of potato production to help meet this challenge.

"The James Hutton Institute has many strengths including our proud history in crop research and plant breeding. We aim to build on this achievement for the benefit of Scottish farmers and consumers and the wider world.

"Our broad, inter-disciplinary science structure will allow us to continue to develop new crop varieties that meet future needs for food whilst safeguarding the environment."
The Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment,

Cabinet Minister Richard Lochhead said: "The publication of this research is a major achievement and represents the culmination of many years of dedicated work.

"The Scottish Government is a long-term and committed funder of scientific research which is hugely important to the rural economy and in supporting our drive to grow the food and drink sector and ensure our future food security.

"I’m delighted to see yet another example of how this investment has helped highlight the world-renowned expertise of Scottish based researchers and would like to offer my congratulations to all those involved."

The Scottish scientists were part of the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium (PGSC). Funding for the UK-based research was provided by the Scottish Government, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Potato Council.

Dr Glenn Bryan from The James Hutton Institute, who led the UK team, said: "This genome sequence is a major step forward in understanding potato biology. It will lead to accelerated breeding of new potato varieties through use of the genome data to identify genes and genetic markers for important traits.

"Use of genetics-based selection methods is very promising and technology to exploit the genome sequence immediately is already being prepared in the UK and elsewhere.

"In addition, 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."

The Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland, Professor Anne Glover, said: "The pace of scientific advance continues to quicken and the significance of this achievement cannot be underestimated.

"Science generates new insights and delivers new tools that help address major challenges faced by the world, including food security. Global issues need global solutions and this groundbreaking work shows once again that the Scottish science base is strong and delivering impact at the highest level."

Allan Stevenson, chairman of the Potato Council, one of the funding partners in the project, is an East Lothian farmer, businessman and a director of The James Hutton Institute.

He commented: "This research is valuable for the GB potato industry. It takes us much closer to understanding how the potato builds its own resistance to pest and diseases, as well as how the plant responds to lack of vital elements such as water.

"The industry needs to be in a position where we can utilise this understanding to continue to develop varieties of potatoes that meet the needs of consumers in a sustainable way."

The Potato Council announced recently that the World Potato Congress will take place from 27-30 May 2012 in Edinburgh. The organisers are hoping for 600 delegates from more than 30 countries. News of the genome success is expected to boost interest.

Dr David Martin, who led the bioinformatics team at the University of Dundee, said: "Piecing together the exact DNA sequence of the genome has been a technically demanding task, requiring the expertise of all our collaborators worldwide.

"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."

Dr Gerard Bishop, Imperial College London, said: "The wider crop research community has been eagerly anticipating this news; the potato genome will also help our understanding of closely related crops such as tomato, which will be of enormous benefit."

Potato is a member of the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomato, capsicum (the peppers we all buy in the supermarket) and aubergine. As a food it is becoming more and more popular, and is increasingly important in Africa and many parts of Asia, giving it an important potential role in global food security.

Professor Douglas Kell, chief executive, BBSRC, said: "This is wonderful news – the potato genome will enable scientists to do research now to underpin the developments we will come to rely on in 30-40 years time.

"We must use modern research strategies as well as investigating technologies such as marker assisted breeding and genetic modification so that we can know what is required to ensure sustainable increases in crop yields.

"Genome sequencing is one of most important strategies we have at our disposal and with recent progress in data storage and accessibility it will be possible for plant breeders to identify the best genetic sequences to target and so accelerate breeding programmes."

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