Project Number: 3655-21000-051-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 27, 2004
End Date: Jul 31, 2009

Objective:
Identify species selections and adapted hybrids with high tuber calcium, and characterize associated phenomena that relate to practical deployment of new cultivars with high tuber calcium genetics contributed from exotic germplasm. Identify individual plants that combine the greatest frost tolerance of exotic species with the best yield and tuber quality characteristics. Determine the relative abundance of Potato Carboxypeptidase Inhibitor in current cultivars and wild relatives, characterize environmental factors that influence it, and quantify its nutritional significance.

Approach:
Potato is an important food in the U.S. diet. This project addresses three areas in which physiological + genetic study holds potential for mobilizing exotic germplasm to improve the potato crop. Quality is very important in potato, and a growing body of evidence indicates that increasing tuber calcium increases quality. Potato is already grown in more areas of the world than any other major crop, but recent economic studies show that only a 5 degree increase in frost tolerance would result in most of the potential benefits from expanding cultivation, yield and quality to the many growing regions where frost damage is an issue. Potato appears to be a nearly unique source of some tiny proteins that resist degradation from cooking or digestion, and have been shown to have a potent anti-tumor effect in mice and in vitro. Potato is already known to make a large contribution to world nutrition in the form of energy, vitamins and minerals. We should also know if potato is contributing strong anti-cancer effects, especially in light of the recent popularity of low-carb diets.