Genetic Evaluation of Micronutrient Traits in Diploid Potato from a Base Population of Andean Landrace Cultivars

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition is a global health problem. An improved understanding of the genetic variation of important micronutrient traits within a potato breeding population will help devise breeding strategies for the biofortification of this important food staple. The dataset consisted of 556 individuals from 17 full‐sib diploid families grown in 2006 in Huanuco, Peru, and 1329 individuals from 32 full‐sib families grown in 2009 in Ayacucho, Peru. Genetic parameters were estimated using univariate and multivariate individual Bayesian models for micronutrient tuber content including Fe and Zn. Genetic variance was additive and heritability estimates were moderate (0.36 to 0.57) and inflated if the common environment of full‐sibs was not taken into account. Posterior modes of genetic correlation estimates between minerals, when analyzed on a dry‐weight basis, were all positive (0.04 to 0.72) and between minerals and tuber dry matter were negative (−0.14 to −0.38). On a fresh‐weight basis, genetic correlations between minerals and tuber dry matter were small but positive (0.05 to 0.18). The implications and challenges for selective breeding to enhance micronutrient content in potato tubers are discussed.

Variation in tuber mineral concentrations among accessions of Solanum species held in the Commonwealth Potato Collection

“…In the present study, tuber DM content varied from 17-48% (Table 2), which is in agreement with the range reported by McCann et al (2010) in wild Solanum species (18-35% DM) and by Paget et al (2014) in a breeding population of Andean landrace cultivars (13-36% DM). Research by Bamberg et al (1993) suggests that there is a great genetic variation within Solanum germplasm for the ability to accumulate Ca in tubers.…”

“…Genetic variation was observed in the CPC germplasm collection for tuber DM, Ca and K, and these data corroborate those of McCann et al (2010), Bamberg et al (1993Bamberg et al ( , 2008 and Paget et al (2014). In the present study, tuber DM content varied from 17-48% (Table 2), which is in agreement with the range reported by McCann et al (2010) in wild Solanum species (18-35% DM) and by Paget et al (2014) in a breeding population of Andean landrace cultivars (13-36% DM).…”

“…A negative correlation between tuber dry matter content and Ca, Fe, and Zn concentrations, expressed on a dry weight basis, was reported by Paget et al (2014). About 65-75% of DM content in tubers is made up of starch (Burton 1989).…”

“…This suggests that breeding for high tuber Ca, Fe and Zn concentrations might have potential. Furthermore, the heritability of tuber mineral concentrations in potato were found to be moderately high (Brown et al 2010(Brown et al , 2011(Brown et al , 2012(Brown et al , 2013(Brown et al and 2014Haynes et al 2012;Paget et al 2014;Zorrilla et al 2014), indicating the possibility of mineral biofortification by plant breeding.…”

“…There are good prospects for significant improvements using this diverse potato germplasm for many traits (Bradshaw et al 2006), including, for example, tuber calcium concentrations (Bamberg et al 1993(Bamberg et al , 1998Paget et al 2014), iron and zinc concentrations (Paget et al 2014). Therefore, it is useful to explore the genetic resources of the wild relatives of potatoes as a source for the genetic enhancement of tuber minerals, because they may harbour an allelic richness for useful traits including tuber mineral concentration.…”