Comparative Analysis of the Genetic Diversity of Chilean Cultivated Potato Based on a Molecular Study of Authentic Herbarium Specimens and Present-Day Gene Bank Accessions

Abstract

At the end of the 1920s, Vavilov organized several potato-collecting missions in South and Central America. Vavilov and his colleagues, Juzepczuk and Bukasov, participated in these expeditions and worked on gathered material, designated two centers of potato varietal riches and diversity—the Peru–Bolivia high-mountain center and the southern coast of Chile. The WIR Herbarium holds authentic specimens of many taxa described by Russian taxonomists. Here, a set of 20 plastid DNA-specific markers was applied for 49 authentic herbarium specimens of Solanum tuberosum L. from the WIR Herbarium to analyze the genetic diversity of the landrace population collected by Juzepczuk in 1928 in southern–central Chile. Two plastid DNA types, T and A, and two chlorotypes were identified in herbarium specimens, with a clear predominance (96%) of chlorotype cpT_III. In addition, we analyzed 46 living Chilean accessions from the VIR field potato gene bank that were collected after the appearance of Phytophthora infestans in Chile. These living accessions were differentiated into four chlorotypes. Finding a D-type cytoplasm in living Chilean accessions that possess two new chlorotypes indicates a replacement of native cultivars and introgression from the wild Mexican species S. demissum that was actively used in breeding as a source of race-specific resistance to late blight.

Analysis of Genome Structure and Its Variations in Potato Cultivars Grown in Russia

“…However, the clustering of this TBR accession (sample CIP 705053) with commercial potato cultivars having hybrid origin might be expected, because this TBR accession possesses the W-type plastome [ 40 ] which is characteristic for wild potato species and very seldom in potato landraces [ 41 ]. Whereas another cytoplasm type T (with 241 bp specific plastid deletion) is typical for Chilean landrace populations [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. So, we can suppose that TBR accession (sample CIP 705053) is not a native Chilean landrace, it can be represented by an interspecific hybrid genotype.…”

Monitoring biodiversity in the global change era: The importance of herbaria and genetic diversity

“…This can be achieved through the design and testing of microsatellite primers (e.g. Gavrilenko et al, 2023; Rosche et al, 2022) or the development of a panel of SNP markers (e.g. Nygaard et al, 2022).…”

“…In fact, several studies have addressed this question using microsatellite markers. For instance, Gavrilenko et al (2023) analysed the genetic diversity of Chilean cultivated potato herbarium specimens and present-day gene bank accessions, and the study by Rosche et al (2022) explored the use of herbarium specimens to track population genetic signatures linked to the local extinction events of Biscutella laevigata subsp. gracilis .…”

Typification of intraspecific taxa in <i>Solanum andigenum</i> Juz. et Buk.

“…В последнее время аутентичные образцы культурных видов картофеля, включая типовые, активно вовлекаются в молекулярно-генетические исследования (Ames, Spooner, 2008;Gutaker et al, 2019;Gavrilenko et al, 2023). Углубление исследовании� генетического разнообразия андии� скои� группы культурного картофеля потребовало расширения экспериментальнои� выборки и проведения дополнительнои� ревизии аутентичных образцов S. andigenum, хранящихся в гербарии.…”