According to the researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, this innovation could lead to a new era of sustainable farming, where crops are naturally fortified against diseases and harsh environmental conditions, ensuring a stable food supply in the face of climate change and other global challenges.
The global food system is under increasing pressure due to the compounding effects of climate change, which exacerbates the prevalence of pests and diseases in crops. Potatoes, being the third most important food crop worldwide, are particularly at risk.
Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology to modify the StDMR6-1 gene in potatoes. This gave them an ‘extraordinary ability’ to fend off a range of diseases and environmental stressors.
The researchers said these potatoes have shown a notable increase in resistance to late blight and other afflictions, all without any compromise to their yield or tuber quality—key factors for agricultural success.
Additionally, the edited plants have displayed improved tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought and salinity, indicating a wide-ranging resilience that is vital for sustainable agriculture.
The study appears in Horticulture Research.
Erik Andreasson, the corresponding author of the study, said: "Our research on the Stdmr6-1 mutants is poised to transform potato cultivation, offering a line of defense against the relentless challenges of climate change and the evolving threats of pathogens, securing our food supply for generations to come."
He added that the implications of this research are far-reaching, promising a future where the agricultural sector could significantly reduce its dependence on fungicides and embrace a more sustainable approach to farming. The potential applications of this study extend beyond potatoes, offering a blueprint for enhancing the resilience of a variety of crops and contributing to a more robust agricultural framework capable of withstanding the test of time.
A golden age of potato breeding innovation?
US company Ohalo recently came out of stealth mode and is pioneering a new agricultural technology called Boosted Breeding, which significantly enhances potato cultivation. This innovative method allows each parent potato plant to pass on its entire genome to the offspring, resulting in potatoes that are larger, healthier, and more resilient than those produced through traditional breeding methods.
Israeli start-up PoLoPo meanwhile uses molecular farming technology to transform potatoes into factories for producing egg proteins, specifically ovalbumin, which is the main protein found in chicken eggs.
This innovative process involves inserting a DNA sequence into the potato to enable it to produce proteins that are nutritionally equivalent and chemically identical to those derived from chicken eggs, but without any animal input.
The proteins are then extracted and dried into a powder that can be used in various food products, such as plant-based meat, dairy alternatives, baked goods, and sports nutrition.
A UK-based research team is aiming to futureproof the potato supply chain by applying cutting edge precision breeding approaches.Led by agri-tech R&D business B-hive Innovations, the new research project, called TuberGene, is funded as part of UKRI’s National Engineering Biology Programme and aims to harness the power of gene editing to address pressing challenges and secure a sustainable future for the potato industry.
Dr. Rob Hancock, research scientist at the James Hutton Institute, said: "Gene editing and other precision breeding technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to rapidly enhance the traits of potatoes, meeting the need to quickly respond to the changing preferences of consumers. By targeting specific genes responsible for traits like bruising susceptibility and cooking times, we can create varieties that meet the needs of both growers and consumers."
