b'WORLDREVIEWUNITED KINGDOM We have identified a plant that looks fine inare both a staple and a cash crop in Rwanda and like A genetically modified potato with improved tuberterms of yieldcomparable to wild-type Marismany African countries Rwanda faces many challeng-quality and resistance to the devastating diseasePiperbut with all the benefits of blight resist- es importing and storing seed tubers. Through collab-late blight has progressed successfully through theance, reduced bruising and lower levels of reducingoration the parties hope to bring the combination of latest stage of trials. sugars, says Jonathan Jones of The Sainsburytrue potato seeds and hybrids to local farmers. The field trials follow successful lab experimentsLaboratory. The really exciting thing about this trialTrue potato seed allows for the replacement of to modify Maris Piper potatoes with late blightis that our new line also shows resistance to tuberbulky seed tubers with clean, easy to transport and resistance genes from wild relatives of potato calledblightthe same pathogen that causes late blightstore seed. Instead of using 2,500 kilograms of Solanum americanum and Solanum venturii. can get into tubers and rot them. This will reduceperishable potato tubers, farmers will be able to use To improve tuber quality, the modified Maris Piperlosses in storage for potato growers. only 25 grams of true potato seed to plant the same lines also have genes switched offor silenced The next phase of trials funded by the Biotech- area. The application of hybrid potato will allow for to reduce browning upon bruise damage and to avoidnology and Biological Sciences Research Councila much faster breeding process, allowing for the cold-induced sweetening (which is the accumulation(BBSRC), a part of U.K. Research and Innovation, willintroduction of beneficial traits including disease of reducing sugars during cold storage, whichsee 12 more lines go forward to more extensive yieldresistance, which will result in reduced usage of causes blackening when potatoes are cooked at hightrials before the final GM Maris Piper can be takenherbicides and pesticides. The parties collaboration temperatures). forward for regulatory assessment and commerciali- is based on a Memorandum of Understanding de-The Sainsbury Laboratory was granted permissionzation.SOURCE: THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY signed to promote their mutual interest in providing earlier this year by the Department for Environment,Rwandan farmers access to hybrid potato seeds.Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to proceed with threeAFRICA Solynta is excited to collaborate with RAB to years of field trials in controlled conditions. TheseSolynta, the global leader in the development ofidentify the Solynta potato hybrids that will best trials in Norfolk last summer were set up to test ifhybrid potato and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animalimprove farmer productivity in Rwanda, said Hein the genetic improvements were without side-effectsResources Development Board (RAB) announced anKruyt, Solyntas CEO. for yield or lower performance in the field.expansion in their collaboration. Nutritious potatoes Make all the difference.Pre cleaning | Washing | De-stoningSorting Washing SeparatingFor any of your storage needs in CanadaPhone: 1-902-436-4884 | www.tolsmagrisnich.comWINTER 2020 SPUDSMART.COM 55'