Genetic and Genomic Approaches to Understanding Tuber Development and Quality

Quality is a rather nebulous term but is often quoted as a key parameter in breeding programmes. Depending on the target market for the potato product, quality parameters include flavour, texture, nutritional content, particularly important for the fresh market, and size, shape, sugar and dry matter content, and seed tuber vigour. Whilst some of these traits can be easily measured and have a relatively simple genetic architecture, other traits are highly complex and are dependent on many genetic and environmental factors. Significant progress in understanding potato traits has been made in recent years, given impetus by developments in potato genetics and genomics. Nevertheless, challenges remain prioritising targets and developing an appropriate breeding strategy that can address market needs for new varieties that can be produced sustainably. This chapter reviews recent progress in potato quality and development research and predicts the direction of future breeding strategies.