A Toolbox of Potato Genetic and Genomic Resources

Access to genetic and genomic resources can greatly facilitate biological understanding of plant species leading to improved crop varieties. While model plant species such as Arabidopsis have had nearly two decades of genetic and genomic resource development, many major crop species have seen limited development of these resources due to the large, complex nature of their genomes. Cultivated potato is among the ranks of crop species that, despite substantial worldwide acreage, have seen limited genetic and genomic tool development. As technologies advance, this paradigm is shifting and a number of tools are being developed for important crop species such as potato. This review article highlights numerous tools that have been developed for the potato community with a specific focus on the reference de novo genome assembly and annotation, genetic markers, transcriptomics resources, and newly emerging resources that extend beyond a single reference individual.