Efforts are underway to enhance the genetic diversity among potato varieties, aiming at biodiversity conservation and increased resilience against diseases and environmental stresses, including drought. A key figure in this initiative, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist, has been focusing on this global challenge by adapting crops to the changing climate. Over a decade, significant work has been conducted in an experimental field in Harrington, P.E.I., leading to the discovery of genes in diploid potatoes that contribute to drought resistance.
The importance of genetic diversity was highlighted during a recent drought in P.E.I., which contrasted with conditions in Western Canada. The latter region, equipped with irrigation, managed to outproduce P.E.I. in potato yield for the first time, underscoring the need for drought-tolerant varieties. Through the evaluation of 384 diploid potato clones, the scientist identified genetic markers linked to growth and drought resistance, paving the way for breeders to develop potato varieties better suited to withstand climate change impacts.
Source: theweathernetwork.com