**Potato Breeding**

VIII Preface

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**The Use and Impact of Biotechnology in Potato**

**The Use and Impact of Biotechnology in Potato** 

Manuel Andrés Muñoz, Julio César Kalazich,

Manuel Andrés Muñoz, Julio César Kalazich,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72961

Carolina Verónica Folch, Sandra Valeska Orena and

Carolina Verónica Folch, Sandra Valeska Orena and

**at INIA, Chile**

**at INIA, Chile**

Annelore Winkler

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Annelore Winkler

**Breeding: Experience of the Potato Breeding Program**

The potato breeding program of Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) Chile has developed and released 11 commercial varieties of potato. It is estimated that these varieties have 50% of the Chilean potato market and are being evaluated in seven foreign countries. The aim of this work is to summarize the current importance and scope of biotechnology in breeding in Chile, by presenting a program that has generated widespread material among farmers and consumers. The germplasm bank is the source of genetic diversity for controlled crosses. Techniques to introduce the material to in vitro conditions and thermotherapy to obtain pathogen-free in vitro plants are applied. The material is characterized by SSR markers. There is a flow of material from gene bank to the annual scheme of controlled crosses and selection in the plant breeding program. In the selection plots, molecular markers associated with one or few genes that have a large and heritable effect in important traits are used: golden nematode resistance, virus resistance, and late blight resistance. Then, in the early stages of seed production, all the material of the new varieties is checked by fingerprint and molecular and ELISA test for pathogen, to assure

the identity and pathogen-free status of the starting seed material.

varietal development, seed production

**Keywords:** breeding, germplasm bank, molecular markers, varietal fingerprinting,

**Breeding: Experience of the Potato Breeding Program** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72961

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The potato (*Solanum tuberosum* L.) is one of the three most commonly consumed crops along with wheat and rice. The annual worldwide potato production is approximately 330 million tons [1],

**Provisional chapter**

#### **The Use and Impact of Biotechnology in Potato Breeding: Experience of the Potato Breeding Program at INIA, Chile Breeding: Experience of the Potato Breeding Program at INIA, Chile**

**The Use and Impact of Biotechnology in Potato** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72961

Manuel Andrés Muñoz, Julio César Kalazich, Carolina Verónica Folch, Sandra Valeska Orena and Annelore Winkler Carolina Verónica Folch, Sandra Valeska Orena and Annelore Winkler

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Manuel Andrés Muñoz, Julio César Kalazich,

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72961

#### **Abstract**

The potato breeding program of Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA) Chile has developed and released 11 commercial varieties of potato. It is estimated that these varieties have 50% of the Chilean potato market and are being evaluated in seven foreign countries. The aim of this work is to summarize the current importance and scope of biotechnology in breeding in Chile, by presenting a program that has generated widespread material among farmers and consumers. The germplasm bank is the source of genetic diversity for controlled crosses. Techniques to introduce the material to in vitro conditions and thermotherapy to obtain pathogen-free in vitro plants are applied. The material is characterized by SSR markers. There is a flow of material from gene bank to the annual scheme of controlled crosses and selection in the plant breeding program. In the selection plots, molecular markers associated with one or few genes that have a large and heritable effect in important traits are used: golden nematode resistance, virus resistance, and late blight resistance. Then, in the early stages of seed production, all the material of the new varieties is checked by fingerprint and molecular and ELISA test for pathogen, to assure the identity and pathogen-free status of the starting seed material.

**Keywords:** breeding, germplasm bank, molecular markers, varietal fingerprinting, varietal development, seed production

#### **1. Introduction**

The potato (*Solanum tuberosum* L.) is one of the three most commonly consumed crops along with wheat and rice. The annual worldwide potato production is approximately 330 million tons [1],

Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons

and the annual Chilean production is 1 million tons including 50,000 ha with 60,000 farmers. Therefore, potato has a strong economic and social importance. For this reason, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias or the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) established a potato breeding program. In Chile, official statistics indicate that among the eight potato varieties mostly sold in wholesale markets, three correspond to varieties developed by INIA [2].

all the technologies for the improvement, potato has the potential to provide an increased proportion of the food intake required for the anticipated population expansion over the coming decades. Access to these biotechnological techniques is of vital importance for developing countries. However, the highly heterozygous genotypes produce a strong segregation in the progeny from controlled crosses; therefore to obtain a precise combination of characters or the improvement of some specific traits without losing other relevant genetic controlled traits is a difficult task. Genetic engineering could be the key to reach some specific gain in a particular trait preserving good genetic background to address better development of varieties. Nevertheless, GMOs are questioned for public opinion and even forbidden in numerous countries, as the case of Chile. In this way, the role of biotechnology is an assistant for the processes of classical breeding to make them more effective and to know in a better way the plant mate-

The Use and Impact of Biotechnology in Potato Breeding: Experience of the Potato Breeding…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72961

5

So how is the experience of potato breeding program in Chile by using biotechnology to assist the development of Chilean varieties, specially adapted to local environments and productive

Presently, 11 varieties have been released and inscribed in official system of seed certification. With the 11 varieties, it is possible to obtain 40 tons per hectare of yield in dryland conditions

The mission of the potato breeding program in Chile is to develop potato varieties for different uses and productive systems to meet the Chilean market demand, with international

The INIA uses a breeding scheme that is similar to classical potato breeding programs [3–5] with modifications according to local requirements. The potato breeding program begins with the selection of a large number of genotypes to be used as crossing parents. In the early steps of selection, around 100 crosses are made and 30,000 genotypes are evaluated. Selection of F1 progeny at early breeding stages (i.e., the primary individual selection of seedlings and the secondary individual clonal selection) is based on characteristics with high heritability and little annual variation, such as skin color, flesh color, and tuber shape, according to Chilean consumer preferences. The elimination of progeny with severe defects that can devastate potato production (e.g., hollow heart, growth cracks, and brown spots) also occurs at these stages. Progeny that is extremely susceptible to diseases as PVY, PVX, common scab, and late blight is discarded based on visual inspections of the field, although molecular markers are also available for genotype analysis. In later stages (i.e., line selection and the performance yield test), selection is carried out based on quantitative characteristics, such as yield, maturity, cooking qualities, and aptitude for chips or French fries. Molecular markers are applied in all the advanced breeding lines in order to confirm combinations of several resistance genes for diseases. A fixation process is unnecessary as they are clonally

and 80 tons with irrigation, a good yield for Chilean conditions.

**2. Breeding schemes of potato at INIA Chile**

rial at the genetic level.

systems?

projection.

propagated.

Potato varieties must fulfill the requirements of the market and consumer preferences, as well as to show good agronomic performance in several environments and wide adaptation to productive systems. Traits as high yield, tuber conformation, early maturity, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses are the most important goals for potato breeding in Chile.

The breeding of potatoes needs to deal with some complicated issues that make potato breeding a special case in genetic improvement of crops:


These issues make potato breeding to concentrate a large effort in developing a system of controlled crosses that generate seeds from several families producing a large F1 population that will be the source of new breeding lines with potential to become varieties. Additionally, during the process, a big expense of resources is destined to rouging and maintaining of clean seed stocks of seeds.

Under optimized agricultural practices, potato production can yield more than 40 tons per hectare within 4 months from planting to harvest. To achieve this yield, it is essential to have high-quality seeds and improved cultivars as well as good agronomic practices and pest and disease control. With low technology, average yields are much lower ranging from 5 to 20 tons per hectare.

It is expected that through applications of biotechnology such as tissue and cell culture, genetic engineering, marker-assisted technologies, genome-assisted technologies, or a combination of all the technologies for the improvement, potato has the potential to provide an increased proportion of the food intake required for the anticipated population expansion over the coming decades. Access to these biotechnological techniques is of vital importance for developing countries. However, the highly heterozygous genotypes produce a strong segregation in the progeny from controlled crosses; therefore to obtain a precise combination of characters or the improvement of some specific traits without losing other relevant genetic controlled traits is a difficult task. Genetic engineering could be the key to reach some specific gain in a particular trait preserving good genetic background to address better development of varieties. Nevertheless, GMOs are questioned for public opinion and even forbidden in numerous countries, as the case of Chile. In this way, the role of biotechnology is an assistant for the processes of classical breeding to make them more effective and to know in a better way the plant material at the genetic level.

So how is the experience of potato breeding program in Chile by using biotechnology to assist the development of Chilean varieties, specially adapted to local environments and productive systems?

Presently, 11 varieties have been released and inscribed in official system of seed certification. With the 11 varieties, it is possible to obtain 40 tons per hectare of yield in dryland conditions and 80 tons with irrigation, a good yield for Chilean conditions.
