In the greenhouse of the China Center for Asia and the Pacific (CCCAP) of the International Potato Center (CIP), Philip Kear closely monitors the growth of disease-resistant potatoes. Over the past seven years, the British doctor in plant breeding and genetics was rooted in the suburbs of Beijing. He has been actively involved in the collaboration between the CCCAP and various Chinese agricultural research institutions, contributing to the selection of potatoes with features such as early maturation, high yield, heat resistance, and disease resistance. The goal is to enhance the productivity of these tubers, similar to sweet potatoes, to benefit both China and the world.
This year, Kear will lead Zhao’s team to identify genes resistant to various diseases from over 1,000 germplasm resources. Once identified, these genes can be introduced into different varieties through breeding to develop new ones with multiple simultaneous features, such as disease resistance and high yield. Kear hopes that both Chinese and foreign scientists will strengthen their collaboration, cultivate better varieties, and bring benefits to people worldwide.
Source: potatonewstoday.com