Work Package Lead: Sanjeev Kumar Sharma (James Hutton Institute)

Aim

To produce dihaploid lines containing different PCN resistances and combinations that will serve as a source of material for pyramiding PCN resistances in breeding, both at diploid and tetraploid levels.

Potato breeding at diploid level is likely to become normal in future for rapid crop improvement. This is more straightforward and efficient than breeding at tetraploid level because of lesser genetic complexity and increased agility. Diploid level breeding involves crossing the tetraploid with a special pollinator (a dihaploid inducer) to create dihaploid offspring that contain 2 of the 4 genetic complements of the tetraploid parent.

A small number of potato varieties with known G. pallida resistances will be selected to produce diploid lines that can be used for further genetic research in diploid pre-breeding and in commercial tetraploid breeding via interploidy crosses.

For more information about WP 4, please contact: glenn.bryan@hutton.ac.uk.