Hundare, Amar
(2023)
Solanum okadae - A wild diploid potato species with the potential to improve cultivated potato.
PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.
Abstract
Crop breeding is critical for the production of high-quality food and, as a result, for increasing global food security. The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the world's most important tuber crop and the fourth most important crop farmed for human consumption, is a prime candidate crop for addressing global food security. Wild potato species are a significant source of genes for novel traits and resistances to abiotic and biotic stresses that are lacking from most commercial cultivars. Diploid potatoes account for over 70% of wild and landrace potato species, and their tremendous diversity has not been properly defined or fully utilised in past breeding projects. Solanum okadae is one such wild diploid potato species from western Bolivia that has not been extensively studied.
This thesis focuses on different aspects of wild potato species (Solanum okadae) research. These included in vitro micropropagation and regeneration, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, nutritional analysis, in vitro screening for salinity tolerance as well as role of melatonin as a salt stress mitigator. This project also involved the identification of SLF sequences for three putative S-locus F-Box protein (SLF) from S2 haplotype of Solanum okadae which are first to be sequenced in diploid potato species.
The in vitro micropropagation and regeneration experiments in this study showed a two-step plant regeneration process, which eliminated the need for sub-culturing the regenerated shoots on rooting media and may be utilised to develop an unique potato plant breeding programme and facilitate diploid potato plant transformation research. As compared to Solanum tuberosum 'Celandine,' the tubers of glasshouse grown Solanum okadae showed to be nutritionally superior, with significantly higher amount of carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins (C and B12), amino acids, and minerals.. Using in vitro screening, this study not only screened Solanum okadae for salt tolerance, but also unraveled the crucial role of melatonin in salt stress mitigation and thus can be used in the management of salinity in potato cultivation. Solanum okadae was recalcitrant to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, which could be attributed to several factors including genotype, explant, culture conditions. Finally, based on Petunia SLF sequences as references, and using consensus PCR, three putative partial SLF sequences (type 7, 12 and 23) from Solanum okadae were identified.
The results from this thesis show that Solanum okadae can be used as a potential donor candidate for desirable traits in improving cultivated potatoes due to its superior nutritional value and tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought and salinity.
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