Diploid Interspecific Recombinant Inbred Lines for Genetic Mapping in Potato

Recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations are powerful mapping tools in many crops but have not yet been created using cultivated potato germplasm. We crossed the doubled monoploid cultivated clone DM 1–3 with the self-compatible diploid inbred wild clone M6 to create a diploid F1 hybrid. One F1 plant was self- pollinated to generate a phenotypically diverse F2 population, which was selfed to create 87 RILs. This is the first report of a RIL population developed from a cultivated x wild hybrid in potato. Poor fertility was a significant challenge in creating RILs. Nevertheless, we generated inbred lines that ranged from high to low fertility, vigor, and tuber production. F6 RILs ranged from 98 to 68% homozygosity, based on 2884 SNP markers. Considering the phenotypic variability between the two parents and among the RILs, we expect the RIL population to be valuable for mapping traits important to the potato industry.