Unveiling the hidden codes: a review of variability and ecological epigenetics after 20 years of studies on potato.

The cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum L. retains an important reservoir of genetic diversity in its secondary gene pool.

Assessing small RNA profiles in potato diploid hybrid and its resynthesized allopolyploid reveals conserved abundance with distinct genomic distribution.

The shock produced by the allopolyploidization process on a potato interspecific diploid hybrid displays a non-random remobilization of the small RNAs profile on a variety of genomic features. Allopolyploidy, a complex process involving interspecific hybridization and whole genome duplication, significantly impacts plant evolution, leading to the emergence of novel phenotypes. Polyploids often present phenotypic nuances that enhance adaptability, enabling them to compete better and occasionally to colonize new habitats.

Hybridization and polyploidization effects on LTR-retrotransposon activation in potato genome.

Hybridization and polyploidization are major forces in plant evolution and potatoes are not an exception. It is proposed that the proliferation of Long Terminal Repeat-retrotransposons (LTR-RT) is related to genome reorganization caused by hybridization and/or polyploidization. The main purpose of the present work was to evaluate the effect of interspecific hybridization and polyploidization on the activation of LTR-RT.

Response to water deficit of semi-desert wild potato Solanum kurtzianum genotypes collected from different altitudes.

Drought-sensitive crops are threatened as a consequence of limited available water due to climate change. The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) is susceptible to drought and within its wild relative species, Solanum kurtzianum is the Argentinian wild potato species best adapted to arid conditions. However, its physiological responses to water deficit (WD) are still missing.

Methylation-sensitive Amplified Polymorphism as a Tool to Analyze Wild Potato Hybrids.

Methylation-Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP) is a versatile marker for analyzing DNA methylation patterns in non-model species. The implementation of this technique does not require a reference genome and makes it possible to determine the methylation status of hundreds of anonymous loci distributed throughout the genome. In addition, the inheritance of specific methylation patterns can be studied.