Abstract Detail

Crops and Wild Relatives

Nicolao, Rodrigo [1], Castro Marques, Caroline [2], Heiden, Gustavo [3].

Solanum malmeanum, a wild relative for potato breeding.

Crop wild relatives are gaining increasing attention. Their use in plant breeding to broaden the genetic basis of crops are essential to meet industrial demands, global food security, and sustainable production. Solanum malmeanum (Solanum sect. Petota, Solanaceae) is a wild relative of potatoes (S. tuberosum) from Southern South America occurring in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This wild potato has been largely confounded or historically considered as conspecific with S. commersonii. Nevertheless, it was just recently reinstated at species level. Due to the instability of the correct application of this species name and discordant species circumscriptions and morphological borders applied to recognize it, retrieving information on its traits and applied uses is tricky. To overcome these difficulties, we performed a throughout literature reference survey, herbaria specimen's identification revision and genebank database consults to review and update the information available on this neglect potato wild relative towards increasing research on it to fully understand and explore its potential for potato breeding. So far, limited studies were carried out concerning its reproductive biology, resistance against pests and diseases as well as tolerance for abiotic stresses and evaluation of quality traits. Furthermore, many discrepancies are found at previous reports that treat S. malmeanum under different scientific names. The scattered and scarce information available make it less represented in gene banks and genetic studies are under-performed. Thus, we present updated data on S. malmeanum taxonomy, geographical distribution, ecology, reproductive biology, relationship with its closer relatives, biotic and abiotic stresses resistance traits, and discuss ways to overcome sexual barriers of hybridization and future perspective for its use in potato breeding. As a final remark, we highlight that this species potential uses for potato breeding have been neglected and must be unlocked. Thus, further studies carried out on morphological and genetic variability with molecular tools is fundamental for an efficient conservation and applied use of this promising genetic resource.

1 - Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Agronomia, Capão do Leão, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, 96010140, Brasil
2 - Embrapa Clima Temperado, Rodovia BR 392, km 78, Pelotas, RS, 403, Brasil
3 - Embrapa Clima Temperado, Herbarium ECT, Rodovia BR 392, km 78, Caixa Postal 403, Pelotas, RS, 96010-971, Brasil

Keywords:
breeding
Crop wild relatives
Genetic resources  
Potato breeding  
Solanaceae
Wild potatoes.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P1, Crops and Wild Relatives Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 5:00 PM(EDT)
Number: P1CW003
Abstract ID:558
Candidate for Awards:None