Allelic variants of a potato HEAT SHOCK COGNATE 70 gene confer improved tuber yield under a wide range of environmental conditions

Raymond Campbell, Laurence Ducreux, Graham Cowan, Vanessa Young, Gift Chinoko, Gloria Chitedze, Stanley Kwendani, Margaret Chiipanthenga, Craita E. Bita, Obed Mwenye, Hassan Were, Lesley Torrance, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Robert D. Hancock, Glenn J. Bryan, Mark Taylor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previously, we developed and applied a glasshouse screen for potato tuber yield under heat stress and identified a candidate gene (HSc70) for heat tolerance by genetic analysis of a diploid potato population. Specific allelic variants were expressed at high levels on exposure to moderately elevated temperature due to variations in gene promoter sequence. In this study, we aimed to confirm the results from the glasshouse screen in field trials conducted over several seasons and locations including those in Kenya, Malawi and the UK. We extend our understanding of the HSc70 gene and demonstrate that expression level of HSc70 correlates with tolerance to heat stress in a wide range of wild potato relatives. The physiological basis of the protective effect of HSc70 was explored and we show that genotypes carrying the highly expressed HSc70 A2 allele are protected against photooxidative damage to PSII induced by abiotic stresses. Overall, we show the potential of HSc70 alleles for breeding resilient potato genotypes for multiple environments.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere377
Number of pages14
JournalFood and Energy Security
VolumeEarly View
Early online date15 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 15 Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Abiotic stress
  • Field trial
  • HEAT SHOCK COGNATE 70
  • Potato
  • Promoter
  • Yield

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Allelic variants of a potato HEAT SHOCK COGNATE 70 gene confer improved tuber yield under a wide range of environmental conditions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this