PAPAS Newsletter: Breeding for Nematode Resistance in Commercial Potato Varieties
One of the objectives of the PAPAS project is to develop cultivars resistant to several nematodes that attack potatoes. Like most things in life, it is a task easier said than done.
The true challenge in potato breeding lies in potato’s high level of heterozygosity. This means, for most genes in potato, that there are multiple variations of each gene.
Potato’s genetic complexity is further amplified because most cultivated potatoes are tetraploid; for each gene, in any given potato, there could be two, three or even four different versions of the gene present.
Read our full newsletter to learn more about:
- Breeding processes for potato nematode resistance
- Potato breeding programs in the US
- Variety selection, evaluation, important traits, and release
Our next newsletter will elaborate on other project goals!
