Project leader: Dr. agr. Ilze Skrabule
The type of the project: Fundamental and applied research. Latvian Council of Science
Project duration: 2020 – 2022

The aim of research is to investigate new techniques for potato breeding for Nitrogen use efficienty (NUE) and to estimate NUE effect on potato protein quality

Summary: Use of potato varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) lets reducing N emissions, mitigates the environmental impact and fosters the advancement of low input and organic farming systems. High-quality proteins (incl. patatin) present in potato can be used for feed and food purposes thus increasing added value to potato and processing by-products. Screening for NUE under field conditions is time-consuming and labor-intensive, efficient methods for NUE estimation of genotypes are required. During the project various NUE related traits both under in vitro and field conditions will be assessed and results obtained in both systems compared to find possible predictive markers for estimation of NUE under in vitro conditions. If a reliable marker will be detected, it will serve as an innovative and more efficient NUE screening method and will greatly improve the potato breeding process. Field trials will be carried out in different locations and farming systems for more comprehensive results. The understanding the effect of NUE of genotypes on the abundance of patatin in potato tubers will be facilitated. Patatin detection methods will be adopted. New parameters (N, protein) will be calibrated to NIRS for express analysis.