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NZ – SCIENTISTS JOIN GLOBAL POTATO EFFORT
NZ scientists in global push to decipher potato DNA code
8 December, 2005 - Crop & Food Research
An international research programme which will provide information to more quickly improve the flavour, colour and nutritional value of New Zealand potatoes is underway with participation by this country’s leading potato scientists.
Drs Tony Conner and Jeanne Jacobs, of Crop & Food Research, were invited to join the international Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium. This consortium, involving scientists from eight countries, aims to sequence the potato genome by 2010.
Crop & Food Research has made a $5 million commitment to participate in the $36 million programme; this investment ensures New Zealand gains early access to information about the potato genome. This information will be used to breed new potato varieties.
Crop & Food Research’s general manager, research, Dr Prue Williams, says the importance of the potato both internationally and nationally should not be underestimated.
“Potatoes are the fourth largest crop in the world; they are New Zealand’s highest value export crop. This country grows more than 500,000 tonnes each year and exports are worth more than $80 million.
“New Zealand is a fantastic producer of high quality vegetables and our potatoes, and potato products, are in demand in Australia.
Dr Williams says investment in the potato genome consortium supports a sound food strategy for New Zealand. “We are a food producing nation and if we develop unique attributes in our important crops, such as potatoes, we can use those crops to develop internationally-significant new products.
“Potatoes are an important crop and the knowledge we gain from being part of this consortium will help ensure New Zealand is positioned as a high quality food producer in international markets in the future.”
In addition to improving traits of importance to consumers and processors, information will also be obtained to help grow potatoes with reduced pesticide inputs, so improving the sustainability of potato production.
The consortium is being led by Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands. Scientists at Wageningen and in China and will each sequence two of potato’s 12 chromosomes.
Crop & Food Research will sequence chromosome 9. Canada, Scotland, Poland, Russia, Brazil, the US and India will each sequence one chromosome.
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