Potato Breeding for Nitrogen-Use Efficiency: Constraints, Achievements, and Future Prospects

Abstract

In this review, the genetic potential and efforts made on different aspects of potato breeding for nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and the possible physiological and genetic mechanisms determining NUE in potato in relation to other model crops are presented. Strategies to utilize the diverse gene pool of potato and improve the NUE in contrasting N environments are currently evaluated under field conditions using different selection approaches. So far, focused efforts have been made on the identification of potato genotypic differences which will allow for the analysis of specific components of nitrogen-use efficiency and the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on a range of physiological processes and morphological traits of potato. To my knowledge, despite the availability of genome sequence and QTLs identified for NUE and related agronomic and physiological traits in potato, and genomic information from other model crops, candidate genes on NUE have not yet been identified in potato. To maximize the success rate of potato breeding for NUE, basic knowledge how plants respond to different N regimes and other environmental conditions and use of DNA marker technology are vital.