East Lansing, Michigan, USA
August 29, 2024
How does the MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program bring big science to the local farmer?
At the MSU Potato Breeding and Genetics Program, a diverse group of individuals comes together every day to work toward a common goal-- to produce a better potato. David Douchess and his team of potato breeders and extension specialists actively pursue solutions to potato agronomy problems faced by producers here in Michigan –and by potato farmers throughout the world.
“We breed for fast, plentiful growth, disease resistance and good storage, as well as cooking texture and flavor profile,” says director David Douchess. “But diploid potatoes are usually self-incompatible, which can make it difficult to breed diploid cultivars.”
This breeding bottleneck long vexed Dave and his potato team. But that all changed recently with a breakthrough in potato genetics that allows for new research trajectories. This is great news at an R1 university, but how does it help potato farmers here in Michigan?
Dave and his group were recently granted US Patent # 12,065,657 “OVERCOMING SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY IN
DIPLOID PLANTS FOR BREEDING AND PRODUCTION OF HYBRIDS” in which Dave and his team provide a method for genetic modification of plants to reduce or eliminate self-incompatibility.
“It was a great team effort” says of Felix Enciso, who put a lot of time and effort into the project during his PhD program here at MSU. “It’s a big advance for plant breeding, because it gives potatoes the ability to self-pollinate, like tomato can, which will shorten the generation of new cultivars. This shows the importance of biotechnology in supporting new breeding strategies in potatoes and other crops.”
“This patent is one chapter in a very long story of genetics, biotechnology, and collaboration in potato breeding.” David Douches said. “This patent is a key milestone in our diploid potato breeding approach that will ensure improved varieties for the next generation.”
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