Predictive Markers for Cold-Induced Sweetening Resistance in Cold Stored Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

An approach has been developed to screen a large number of potato clones for cold induced sweetening (CIS) resistance in breeding programs. Two key enzymes responsible for reducing sugar accumulation during cold storage were identified. Clones with the A-II isozymes of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase coupled with low activity of vacuolar acid invertase enzyme had increased resistance to CIS by forming less suc, which is subsequently hydrolyzed to the undesirable reducing sugars, glc and fru. Six named cultivars and 192 genetically diverse clones from various breeding programs in USA were analyzed over two years for the two key enzymes and sugar concentration in cold stored tubers. The predictability for CIS resistance during cold storage was 94% both years. Clones classified as class A accumulated low concentration of reducing sugar glc during cold storage. It is suggested that these two predictor enzymes can be used for screening parents and selections in potato breeding program.