Searching for Molecular Markers Related to Frost Resistance in Peruvian Landraces of Potato

Native cultivated potatoes are a source of interesting trairs for breeding. In the Andes, many varieties are frost resistant and farmers in the highlands need commercial varieties that exhibit such traits alongside high yields, pathogen resistance and good culinary quality traits. For this project we plan to analyzed protein, RNA and DNA from native potatoes looking for genes implicated in the tolerance/susceptibility to frost. Using landraces cultivated at 3 200 to 4 200 meters above sea level that can resist temperatures as low as 4C, we will determine the abundance of proteins upon exposure to cold temperatures, the putative mRNA sequence and the putative gene that codes for it. By comparing the relative abundance of proteins in both tolerant and susceptible varieties we hope to detect key genes whose expresion might contribute to frost tolerance. By sequence those genes in our landrace sample, we will try to develop allele-specific molecular markers that would screen for the trait by a simple PCR.