A consortium of scientists has completed a new map of the potato genome that could help scientists and breeders develop more nutritious and disease-resistant variations of the crop, helping feed rapidly growing 
populations. Using the latest in genome sequencing technologies, scientists participating in the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium were able to link specific potato genes to their functions, gaining critical insights into the growth and development of the potato’s edible part, or tuber. The world’s top non-grain food commodity, potato crops are particularly important in developing nations because they deliver food yield relatively quickly and can be cultivated on smaller plots and in varied landscapes. But while potatoes are able to thrive on every continent except Antarctica, they are vulnerable to pests and pathogens, as illustrated by the Irish potato famine of the 19th century. According to the group’s paper, published in the journal Nature, insights from the project will allow farmers to develop disease-resistant strains that are less dependent on pesticides.
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