They are barking up the wrong tree with insisting on staying with diploids.
The higher yields of tetraploid varieties are because of them being in the tetraploid state. Tetraploidy commonly causes the enlargement of plant organs (thicker stems, larger flowers, and bigger tubers). It’s also relatively straightforward to breed diploids then convert them to tetraploid state. It’s completely routine in other species.
The downside tetraploids is true seed production is decreased by as much as 90%. It also takes 4-5 generations to stabilize them after they are created. Producing hybrid true seed becomes very expensive and much slower. I understand why they don’t want to do it, but they are wrong.
The current commercial production of potatoes is very expensive and environmentally damaging. There is a ton of space to capture value by going to true seed. For example tuber storage, cutting, tuber treatment, and specialized planters. Double fumigation (biofumigation followed by chemicall) is common in some areas. In season chemistry applications in fungicide etc…are very high.
Improved genetic resistance to numerous different pathogens would lead to rapid adoption if the math works out.
Been watching this one for many years.
They are barking up the wrong tree with insisting on staying with diploids.
The higher yields of tetraploid varieties are because of them being in the tetraploid state. Tetraploidy commonly causes the enlargement of plant organs (thicker stems, larger flowers, and bigger tubers). It’s also relatively straightforward to breed diploids then convert them to tetraploid state. It’s completely routine in other species.
The downside tetraploids is true seed production is decreased by as much as 90%. It also takes 4-5 generations to stabilize them after they are created. Producing hybrid true seed becomes very expensive and much slower. I understand why they don’t want to do it, but they are wrong.
The current commercial production of potatoes is very expensive and environmentally damaging. There is a ton of space to capture value by going to true seed. For example tuber storage, cutting, tuber treatment, and specialized planters. Double fumigation (biofumigation followed by chemicall) is common in some areas. In season chemistry applications in fungicide etc…are very high.
Improved genetic resistance to numerous different pathogens would lead to rapid adoption if the math works out.