BackgroundGenome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers coupled with allele dosage information has emerged as a powerful tool for studying complex traits in cultivated autotetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L., 2n = 4× = 48). To date, this approach has been effectively applied to the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying highly heritable traits such as disease resistance, but largely unexplored for traits with complex patterns of inheritance.ResultsIn this study, an F1 tetraploid russet mapping population (162 individuals) was evaluated for multiple quantitative traits over two years and two locations to identify QTLs associated with tuber sugar concentration, processing quality, vine maturity, and other high-value agronomic traits. We report the linkage maps for the 12 potato chromosomes and the QTL location with corresponding genetic models and candidate SNPs explaining the highest phenotypic variation for tuber quality and maturity related traits. Significant QTLs for tuber glucose concentration and tuber fry color were detected on chromosomes 4, 5, 6, 10, and 11. Collectively, these QTLs explained between 24 and 46% of the total phenotypic variation for tuber glucose and fry color, respectively. The QTL on chromosome 10 was associated with apoplastic invertases, with ‘Premier Russet’ contributing the favorable allele for fry processing quality. On chromosome 5, minor-effect QTLs for tuber glucose concentration and fry color co-localized with various major-effect QTLs, including vine maturity, growth habit, tuber shape, early blight (Altenaria tenuis), and Verticillium wilt (Verticillium spp.).ConclusionsLinkage analysis and QTL mapping in a russet mapping population (A05141) using SNP dosage information successfully identified favorable alleles and candidate SNPs for resistance to the accumulation of tuber reducing sugars. These novel markers have a high potential for the improvement of tuber processing quality. Moreover, the discovery of different genetic models for traits with overlapping QTLs at the maturity locus clearly suggests an independent genetic control.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12863-018-0672-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Premier Russet is a russet-skinned, high yielding potato cultivar suitable for processing or fresh-pack. Premier Russet is notable for its resistance to the accumulation of reducing sugars in its tubers. This characteristic allows tubers of Premier Russet to be stored at temperatures as low as 5.6°C for 250 days without the need for reconditioning prior to processing. The low temperature sweetening resistance of Premier Russet allows for its storage at colder temperatures which contributes to prolonged tuber dormancy and quality, and to a reduction in the incidence and severity of storage diseases associated with the higher storage temperatures typically used for industry-standard cultivars such as Russet Burbank and Ranger Russet.