Genetic approaches for quantitative and qualitative potato crop improvement

Abstract

The sustainable production of potato (the world´s third most consumed food crop) is hampered by different factors, including abiotic and biotic stress, wich reduces crop yield. To overcome this problem, the develompent of new varietes with higher yields and less sensitive to adverse environmental conditions or diseases is critical. The improvement of tuber quality and the reduction of tuber sprouting are also important objectives in potato breeding. Transgenic technology is the most commonly used strategy for potato improvement. It has been shown that transgenic crops are no more risky than conventional ones, however, many countries are reluctant to promote the use of genetically modified crops. New plant breeding technologies based on genome editing may dispel these concerns about transgenic crops, since these tools allow the generation of transgene-free products. This chapter summarizes the genetic approaches that have been applied to improve different agronomic traits of potato varieties, as well as the potential applications of genome editing.