Group Phureja Research Articles

Cinética de Inactivación de la Enzima Peroxidasa, Color y Textura en Papa Criolla (Solanum tuberosum Grupo phureja) sometida a tres Condiciones de Escaldado

The objective of this work was to determine the inactivation kinetics of peroxidase enzyme and the change in color and texture in golden potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum phureja group) exposed to blanching with water at 80°C, 90°C and to saturated steam at 93°C. The heat transfer coefficients for the blanch water ranged between 214 and 230 W °C -1 m -2 while for saturated steam they showed an average of 84.5 W °C -1 m -2 . At different pre-cooking times the golden potato tuber showed an area that developed enzymatic browning, which was fitted to the Michaelis-Menten kinetic model and another area where the color change decreased due to enzyme inactivation, which corresponded to first order kinetics, in a similar way as the texture behavior. The inactivation of peroxidase enzyme followed the Lumry-Eyring mechanism.

The Transcriptome of the Reference Potato Genome Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja Clone DM1-3 516R44

Advances in molecular breeding in potato have been limited by its complex biological system, which includes vegetative propagation, autotetraploidy, and extreme heterozygosity. The availability of the potato genome and accompanying gene complement with corresponding gene structure, location, and functional annotation are powerful resources for understanding this complex plant and advancing molecular breeding efforts. Here, we report a reference for the potato transcriptome using 32 tissues and growth conditions from the doubled monoploid Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja clone DM1-3 516R44 for which a genome sequence is available. Analysis of greater than 550 million RNA-Seq reads permitted the detection and quantification of expression levels of over 22,000 genes. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses captured the biological variability that accounts for gene expression differences among tissues suggesting tissue-specific gene expression, and genes with tissue or condition restricted expression. Using gene co-expression network analysis, we identified 18 gene modules that represent tissue-specific transcriptional networks of major potato organs and developmental stages. This information provides a powerful resource for potato research as well as studies on other members of the Solanaceae family.

Relationships between volatile and non-volatile metabolites and attributes of processed potato flavour

Although the flavour of processed potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is important to consumers, the blend of volatile and non-volatile metabolites that impact on flavour attributes is not well-defined. Additionally, it is important to understand how potato flavour changes during storage. In this study, quantitative descriptive analysis of potato samples by a trained taste panel was undertaken, comparing tubers from S. tuberosum group Phureja with those from S. tuberosum group Tuberosum, both at harvest and following storage. The cooked tuber volatile profile was analysed by solid phase micro extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis in sub-samples of the tubers that were assessed by taste panels. A range of non-volatile metabolites including the major umami compounds, glycoalkaloids and sugars was also measured in tuber sub-samples. Correlation and principal component analyses revealed differences between the potato cultivars and storage conditions and demonstrated associations of metabolites with the different sensory attributes.

Discerning intra-tuber differences in textural properties in cooked Solanum tuberosum group Tuberosum and group Phureja tubers

The textural properties of potato tubers influence their acceptability and palatability and these properties differ between varieties, groups and progeny. The aim of this study was to compare the textural properties of cooked tubers of Solanum tuberosum group Phureja with those of group Tuberosum. To assess intra-tuber differences, the textural properties of seven cubes from defined positions along the longitudinal axis of tubers of four Tuberosum group cultivars and three Phureja group lines were tested after cooking using an amended wedge fracture method. Tuberosum group tubers gave consistently higher peak force and work done values during fracture than the Phureja group tubers. Moreover, the values for cubes 1-6 from any tuber were not significantly different and only cube 7, from the stem end, gave higher values. Therefore, the use of any of cubes 1-6 is a valid measurement of the tuber as a whole but the central cube 4 may be most conveniently located. The dry matter content of the cubes did not influence the textural properties of the cubes, which suggested that starch swelling is not the main driving force for textural differences. Total pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity was consistently higher in cubes of the Tuberosum group cultivars over the Phureja group lines. The method developed is valid and consistent for assessing textural differences within potato germplasm. The relationship between PME activity and enhanced resistance to fracture suggests that PME may modulate pectin cohesiveness, perhaps through increasing Ca(2+)-bridges, to provide greater resistance to fracture.

A Metabolomics Study of Cultivated Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Groups Andigena, Phureja, Stenotomum, and Tuberosum Using Gas Chromatography−Mass Spectrometry

Phytochemical diversity was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in tubers of genotypes belonging to groups Andigena, Phureja, Stenotomum, and Tuberosum of the potato, Solanum tuberosum. Polar extracts (mainly amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols) and nonpolar extracts (mainly fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and sterols) were examined. There was a large range in levels of metabolites, including those such as asparagine, fructose, and glucose, that are important to tuber quality, offering considerable scope for selecting germplasm for breeding programmes. There were significant differences in the levels of many metabolites among the groups. The metabolite profiles of genotypes belonging to Phureja and Stenotomum were similar and different from those of Tuberosum and the majority of Andigena genotypes. There was some agreement with the phylogeny of the groups in that Stenotomum is believed to be the ancestor of Phureja and they are both distinct from Tuberosum. Andigena genotypes could be partially distinguished according to geographical origin, Bolivian genotypes being particularly distinct from those from Ecuador. Biosynthetic links between metabolites were explored by performing pairwise correlations of all metabolites. The significance of some expected and unexpected strong correlations between many amino acids (e.g., between isoleucine, lysine, valine, and other amino acids) and between several nonpolar metabolites (e.g., between many fatty acids) is discussed. For polar metabolites, correlation analysis gave essentially similar results irrespective of whether the whole data set, only Andigena genotypes, or only Phureja genotypes were used. In contrast, for the nonpolar metabolites, Andigena only and Phureja only data sets resulted in weaker and stronger correlations, respectively, compared to the whole data set, and may suggest differences in the biochemistry of the two groups, although the interpretation should be viewed with some caution.

Phytochemical Diversity in Tubers of Potato Cultivars and Landraces Using a GC-MS Metabolomics Approach

Phytochemical diversity with respect to a range of polar (including amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols) and nonpolar (including fatty acids, alkanols, and sterols) metabolites was examined within tubers from a total of 29 genetically diverse potato cultivars and Chilean landraces using a metabolomics approach by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. From principal component analysis of the polar and nonpolar metabolite data there was insufficient variation to differentiate the majority of cultivars and landraces. Analysis of all polar metabolite profiles revealed separation of two cultivars (Glenna and Morag) from the other cultivars and landraces and a separate cluster of one landrace line, largely due to higher levels of sugars. Pentland Javelin was distinct in containing high levels of many amino acids. The two Solanum tuberosum group phureja cultivars (Inca Sun and Mayan Gold) were not particularly similar and were not separated from the S. tuberosum group tuberosum cultivars. Analysis of the nonpolar metabolite data revealed partial separation of two landrace lines and, on the basis of some minor fatty acids, Mayan Gold was distinct. The differences in metabolite profiles are considered in terms of the taxonomy and breeding history of the cultivars and possible influences from other factors such as developmental stage of the tuber. With a view to exploring biosynthetic links between metabolites, a pairwise correlation analysis was performed on all metabolites. The significance of high correlations between many amino acids and between several nonpolar metabolites is discussed.

Comparison of the Calystegine Composition and Content of Potato Sprouts and Tubers from Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja and Solanum tuberosum Group Tuberosum

The calystegines detected in tubers from 17 Phureja ( S. tuberosum Group Phureja) lines and five Tuberosum ( S. tuberosum Group Tuberosum) cultivars were identified as the A 3 and B 2 structural types. Their concentration in whole tubers was of a similar order of magnitude in both species, as was the variability in the ratio of B 2 to A 3. On average, calystegine concentrations in the peel were about 13 times that found in the flesh for the five Tuberosum cultivars, and 4 times higher for four Phureja lines. Removal of the peel reduced the calystegine content by an average of over 50% in Tuberosum but by only 30% in Phureja, despite the latter having the greater proportion of peel. The calystegine content of sprouts was also determined for five Tuberosum cultivars and four Phureja lines and was found to include small amounts of four additional types, B 3, B 4, N 1, and X 2, in addition to the more abundant A 3 and B 2. Concentrations in the sprouts of Tuberosum were on average 100 times higher than that in the tuber flesh and 8 times higher than in the peel, whereas for Phureja, the equivalent values were 30 and 7 times higher, respectively. No correlation was found between sprout concentration and either flesh or peel calystegine concentration.

Genetic analysis of the cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum L. Phureja Group using RAPDs and nuclear SSRs

The Solanum tuberosum L. Phureja Group consists of potato landraces widely grown in the Andes from western Venezuela to central Bolivia, and forms an important breeding stock due to their excellent culinary properties and other traits for developing modern varieties. They have been distinguished by short-day adaptation, diploid ploidy (2n = 2x = 24), and lack of tuber dormancy. This nuclear simple sequence repeat (nSSR or microsatellite) study complements a prior random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) study to explore the use of these markers to form a core collection of cultivar groups of potatoes. Like this prior RAPD study, we analyzed 128 accessions of the Phureja Group using nuclear microsatellites (nSSR). Twenty-six of the 128 accessions were invariant for 22 nSSR markers assayed. The nSSR data uncovered 25 unexpected triploid and tetraploid accessions. Chromosome counts of the 102 accessions confirmed these nSSR results and highlighted seven more triploids or tetraploids. Thus, these nSSR markers (except 1) are good indicators of ploidy for diploid potatoes in 92% of the cases. The nSSR and RAPD results: (1) were highly discordant for the remaining 70 accessions that were diploid and variable in nSSR, (2) show the utility of nSSRs to effectively uncover many ploidy variants in cultivated potato, (3) support the use of a cultivar-group (rather than a species) classification of cultivated potato, (4) fail to support a relationship between genetic distance and geographic distance, (5) question the use of any single type of molecular marker to construct core collections.

Advantages of Wild Diploid Solanum Species Over Cultivated Diploid Relatives in Potato Breeding Programs

For breeding programs of the tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum), both wild and cultivated diploid relatives are valuable sources of genetic diversity. While both types of germplasm are used in breeding programs, there are several advantages to using wild relatives. Diploid relatives are typically crossed with haploids (2n = 2x = 24) from tetraploid S. tuberosum to improve daylength adaptation. Most haploids are male sterile, so they are typically used as female parents. Cultivated diploids, such as members of the Phureja Group, produce male sterile hybrids when crossed as females to haploids; wild relatives, such as S. tarijense, often produce male fertile hybrids. Tuber yield following crosses of haploids to cultivated or wild relatives is often high. However, cultivated relatives generally produce hybrids with a high set of small tubers; hybrids from wild relatives are variable, but many are similar to cultivars in tuber size and set. While tubers of hybrids from cultivated relatives are typically rough, with deep eyes and raised internodes, those from wild relatives are often smooth. Tuber dormancy in hybrids with cultivated relatives is generally short, while that in hybrids with wild species is longer, allowing for storage over winter. Finally, resistance to several major diseases and stresses has been found in wild species and their hybrids with S. tuberosum haploids. The desirable traits in hybrids are transmitted to tetraploids via unilateral sexual polyploidization (4x × 2x or 2x × 4x crosses in which the diploid parent produces 2n gametes). Wild Solanum species are recommended for use in potato breeding programs as sources of genetic diversity that can be adapted easily following hybridization with S. tuberosum haploids.

Net Nitrate Uptake by the Roots of Different Potato Haploids

ABSTRACT Seventy haploids were obtained by crossing the pollinator Solanum tuberosumL. Group Phureja (P.I.1.22) (2n = 2x) with tetraploid clones of Solanum tuberosumL., “Spunta” and `Desirée,' two adapted Italian varieties. By tuber morphology screening, they were grouped into six classes and six haploids were selected as representative for each class. Esterase isozyme analysis on leaves of the selected haploids indicated the presence of a considerable degree of genetic variability. Six potato haploids were evaluated for differences in nitrate acquisition efficiency. A wide variability of net nitrate uptake rate, ranging from 2.36 to 4.23 μ moles/h/g FW, was observed among the potato genotypes. Furthermore, the time needed for the expression of the nitrate uptake induction showed large differences (from 6.93 to 46.2 h). Relative growth rate of potato haploids correlated with the accumulated nitrate (At) while any correlation with the parameters relative to the induction phase of nitrate uptake was observed. Results indicated that, besides morphological variability, potato haploid populations showed a high variability in nitrate acquisition efficiency. This variability must be gauged in order to select potato varieties with improved capacity for nitrate uptake.

Reclassification of landrace populations of cultivated potatoes (Solanum sect. Petota)

Cultivated potatoes have been classified as species under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) and as cultivar-groups under the International Code of Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants (ICNCP); both classifications are still widely used. This study examines morphological support for the classification of landrace populations of cultivated potatoes, using representatives of all seven species and most subspecies as outlined in the latest taxonomic treatment. These taxa are S. ajanhuiri, S. chaucha, S. curtilobum, S. juzepczukii, S. phureja subsp. phureja, S. stenotomum subsp. stenotomum, S. stenotomum subsp. goniocalyx, S. tuberosum subsp. andigenum, and S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum. The results show some phenetic support for S. ajanhuiri, S. chaucha, S. curtilobum, S. juzepczukii, and S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum, but little support for the other taxa. Most morphological support is by using a suite of characters, all of which are shared with other taxa (polythetic support). These results, combined with their likely hybrid origins, multiple origins, evolutionary dynamics of continuing hybridization, and our classification philosophy, leads us to recognize all landrace populations of cultivated potatoes as a single species, S. tuberosum, with the eight cultivar-groups: Ajanhuiri Group, Andigenum Group, Chaucha Group, Chilotanum Group, Curtilobum Group, Juzepczukii Group, Phureja Group, and Stenotomum Group. We defer classification of modern cultivars, traditionally classified in Tuberosum Group, to a later study.

Immunity to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus: Screening of exotic Solanum species

Accessions from exotic Solanum species, including diploid and tetraploid species, were screened for immunity to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, the causal agent of potato ring rot. The diploid species included S. infundibuliforme, S. lesteri, S. megistacrolobum, S. tuberosum Group Phureja, S. polyadenium, S. pinnatisectum, S. raphanifolium, S. sparsipilum, S. sanctae-rosae, S. tuberosum Group Stenotomum, S. toralapanum, and S. verrucosum. The tetraploid species included S. tuberosum Group Andigena, S. acaule, S. fendleri, S. hjertingii, S. oplocense, S. polytrichon, and S. stoloniferum. Apparent immunity was initially found in several diploid species, but was not present during subsequent retesting. Immunity was found in nine accessions of tetraploid S. acaule. These accessions maintained their immunity during testing over an eight-month period. S. acaule appears to be a good source of immunity for introgression studies.

Disease resistance inSolanum phureja and diploid and tetraploidS. tuberosum × S. phureja hybrids

DiploidSolanum phureja, diploid and tetraploidS. tuberosum × S. phureja hybrid, and tetraploidS. tuberosum backcross clones were assessed for resistance to commercially important diseases. There was a reduction in the expression ofS. phureja characteristics with increasing dosage ofS. tuberosum genetic material. The generally high resistance of theS. phureja group to common scab, potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y decreased, while resistance to gangrene, foliage and tuber blight tended to increase.

Inheritance of early blight resistance in diploid potatoes

Early blight (Alternatia solani) is a fungal disease in hot and humid environments, which causes leaf, stem and tuber lesions. Early blight resistance should be incorporated into potato cultivars because the fungicide spraying is an expensive solution for developing countries. The diploid cultivated species Solanum tuberosum group Phureja and group Stenotomum are sources of resistance alleles. The elucidation of the inheritance for early blight resistance must help to decide what could be the best breeding procedure to improve this diploid germplasm and transfer the resistance to the tetraploid level. Three experiments were carried out under controlled and field conditions to determine the heritability of this trait using nested and diallel mating designs with haploid, species and haploid-species hybrids. The narrow-sense heritability estimates were relatively high (0.64–0.78). This means that additivity was the most important type of gene action for determining resistance to early blight at the diploid level. The results suggested that diploid parents showing highest levels of resistance, throughout the cycle of disease development, can be used in 4x×2x crosses to obtain resistant tetraploid progenies to this fungal disease.

Performance and stability of nine 4x clones from 4x−2x crosses and four commercial cultivars

Nine clones from 4x−2x crosses were evaluated along with four cultivars in six Wisconsin environments. The 4x clones from 4x−2x crosses had as their 2x parents hybrids with haploid Tuberosum and either Group Phureja orSolanum tarijense. The 2x hybrids produced 2n pollen by first division restitution. The traits evaluated were marketable yield, mass density and chip color. Stability analysis was conducted by determining the linear relationships between mean yield of individual clones and environmental mean yields. Mean square deviations from linear regression (s2d) were used to evaluate phenotypic stability and regression coefficients (b) as environmental response parameters. Three 4x clones from 4x-2x crosses were more stable and not significantly different for yield than cv. Atlantic; some also had superior specific gravity and chip color. The results suggest that the 4x×2x breeding method is very efficient for the production of high yielding, stable clones with superior processing qualities, particularly since the 4x clones from 4x-2x crosses originated from very small source populations.

Selection for Tuber Characters Can Maintain High Specific Gravity in a Diploid Potato Breeding Population

A base population of high specific gravity clones was established from a diploid hybrid population of Solarium tuberosum Group Phureja and Solarium tuberosum Group Stenotomum previously adapted to the long-day growing conditions in North Carolina. This base population was subjected to two 2-year cycles of recurrent selection. During each cycle, selections in the field were made on the basis of tuber smoothness, shape, and size. Tubers from unselected clones were bulked by plots. Tuber specific gravity was determined for the selected and unselected (bulk) clones. Tuber specific gravity was significantly greater in the selected than in the unselected clones in each cycle of selection.

Yield and yield components of meiotic tetraploids of potato

In a field study simulating commercial practice, the performance of 4x meiotic tetraploids from 4x−2x crosses (Group Tuberosum×(Group Phureja×haploid Group Tuberosum), and their 4x and 2x parents, was studied for total yield, total number of tubers, number of marketable tubers and average tuber weight. Some of the families showed striking heterotic effects for these characters. 38 selected high yielding tetraploids from these families, when evaluated in the next season, gave 80% higher mean yield than the mean of the 4x parents.

Heritability of Specific Gravity of Diploid Potato under High Temperature Growing Conditions

High temperatures encountered during the growing season reduce tuber dry matter content in commercial tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Variability in dry matter content as measured by specific gravity was observed in a diploid hybrid population of S. tuberosum Group Phureja and S. tuberosum Group Phureja and S. tuberosum Group Stenotomum grown under high temperatures. The objective of this research was to estimate heritability of specific gravity in this diploid hybrid population under high temperature growing conditions in North Carolina. Heritability was estimated by midparent offspring regression. Parents were grown at three high‐temperature locations and offspring at eight. Analyses of variance on specific gravity for each of the eight offspring locations revealed heterogeneity of error variances, therefore data were not combined over years and locations for further analyses. Twenty‐four estimates of heritability were obtained, 16 of which were unbiased (parents and offspring were grown in different years and different locations). The average unbiased estimate of heritability was 0.28 (range −0.07 to 0.77). Four estimates were biased because parents and offspring were grown at similar locations in different years. The average of these estimates was 0.57 (range 0.51‐0.63). Two estimates were biased because parents and offspring were grown in the same year in different locations, the average of which was 0.38 (range 0.29–0.46). Two estimates were biased because parents and offspring were grown in the same year at similar locations. These averaged 0.41 (range 0.40‐0.42). Considered together, the moderate estimates of heritability suggest that it should be possible to continue to improve this population for specific gravity under high‐temperature growing conditions. There was an apparent upward bias in the heritability estimates when the parents and offspring were not grown in different years and different locations.

Effect of environment and direction of hybridization on genetic variability in two diploid potato populations

Twelve selections from each of theSolanum tuberosum Groups haploid Tuberosum and Phureja were intercrossed in a NC Design II pattern to generate reciprocal hybrids. Yield parameters, combining ability and variance components were estimated from field experiments conducted at three locations, one in Minnesota and two in Morocco. Heterosis for yield and tuber number was significant at all locations, but only in Tuberosum cytoplasm. Estimates of general combining ability (GCA) for Tuberosum parents and specific combining ability (SCA) for Tuberosum-Phureja combinations varied with location and direction of hybridization. GCA of Phreja parents, however, was consistently significant at all locations and in both cytoplasms. Genetic variance estimates revealed predominantly non-additive gene action for most traits. Environment and direction of hybridization significantly influenced estimates, of variance components, indicating that hybrid performance should be evaluated in both cytoplasms and in the target environments for effective utilization of this germplasm in future breeding efforts.

The transfer of the synaptic gene (sy-2) from 1EBN Solanum commersonii Dun. to 2EBN germplasm

Crosses of a synaptic mutant (sy-2) of 2x(1EBN) S. commersonii Dun. with 2x(2EBN) S. chacoense Bitt. resulted in the production of 3x(2EBN) hybrids. Low levels of 2n egg production in these hybrids allowed subsequent crosses to be made with 4x(4EBN) cultivars, resulting in 5x(4EBN) S. commersonii-S. chacoense-Group Tuberosum hybrids. Seed set in these crosses averaged 0.22 seeds per fruit. Fifty-four unspotted seeds were produced in 1225 crosses of the 5x(4EBN) hybrids with 2x(2EBN) Group Phureja haploid extraction clones carrying dominant seed spot markers. These seeds yielded a total of 15 confirmed haploids having a diploid (2n=2x=24) or near diploid chromosome number. One haploid clone recovered displayed a synaptically abnormal phenotype similar to the original S. commersonii synaptic mutant. Preliminary test crosses of these haploids indicated that all haploids produced were 2EBN. This method for the transfer of alleles across EBN levels holds promise for the recovery of both qualitative and quantitative traits from 1EBN species. In these recovered, cross-compatible forms, clones with desired characteristics may be selected and easily incorporated into breeding programs.