Spudman November/December 2022 - 37

polymorphism near the RB gene that
distinguished individuals with RB from
those without. The marker was created
using this polymorphism with the help
of LGC Biosearch Technologies. We
tested it on a wider population and
found it could accurately detect the
presence of RB. This new RB KASP
marker will allow breeders to more
efficiently screen their germplasm for
the presence of the gene, allowing faster
introgression of late blight resistance
into breeding lines.
Tannis Anderson-Nygaard
Bio: I am currently a graduate
student at North Dakota State
University (NDSU) working in
Dr. Asunta Thompson's potato breeding
program. My research interests include
genomics and genetics, which has
led me to my current research for my
master's degree in plant science and
breeding: inducing diploid potatoes
from current tetraploid varieties. I
completed my undergraduate degree
in plant breeding and genetics at the
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities,
with a minor in agricultural and food
business management and plan to
continue my education by pursuing a
Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics or
genomics and bioinformatics.
Research: In the United States,
all commercially grown potatoes
are tetraploid, with four sets
of homologous chromosomes;
this chromosome composition
induces a complex polysomic
autotetraploid inheritance.
High levels of heterozygosity are
observed due to the multi-allelic
quality of potato, making genetic
inheritance difficult to predict. In
addition, the autoploid tendencies
of this plant further complicate its
genetics; its four homologous sets
of chromosomes randomly form
bivalents and sometimes multivalents
that independently assort. These
factors can lead to aneuploid gamete
production and an unpredictable
formation of bivalents, unlike the
behavior of diploid or allopolyploid
species. Diploids have two alleles
per locus, generally following simple
Mendelian inheritance patterns.
Diploid wildtypes are used in
breeding programs as a source of
disease resistance genes for integration
into commercial cultivars. In the past
several decades, there have been low
genetic gains in commercial potato
production, due heavily to the genetic
complexity of their autotetraploid
inheritance. Diploid potato breeding
may be able to increase those genetic
gains through simplified breeding,
increased availability of technology
and genetic resources, and potentially
reducing the amount of time needed to
release a new potato variety.
My research utilizes two methods
of diploid induction from currently
tetraploid lines: the use of a diploid
inducer line and anther culture. In
an effort to establish an efficient and
economic diploid potato production
procedure at NDSU, my goal is to
compare these two methods for their
diploid induction rate and agronomic
success of the resulting diploids,
assessing tuber quality, plant fertility,
and other important traits. Many
potato research programs are working
on diploid breeding, and many are
using diploid production methods
similar to the two I am using. There are
many more areas to explore in diploid
potato cultivar development.
Spudman * November/December 2022
37
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Spudman November/December 2022

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