GENETIC CONTROL OF GLYCOALKALOIDS IN POTATOES

Glycoalkaloids are natural plant compounds, normally harmless at low levels, but potentially harmful to animals at high levels. A major problem for the European starch potato industry is the high levels of glycoalkaloids concentrated in the potato waste stream. Traditionally this potato waste is fed to animals, but the high levels of glycoalkaloids in the waste solids reduces their usefulness as fodder. Potato breeders world-wide have problems with high levels of glycoalkaloids, because they are often associated with desirable traits. The proposed program will create transgenic potatoes, using an antisense gene to inhibit the biosynthesis of glycoalkaloids. This technology has the potential to eliminate the problems of high glycoalkaloids in potato tubers.