Recent advances in potato genomics, transcriptomics, and transgenics under drought and heat stresses: A review

Abstract

Sustainable potato production practices are crucial for food security and social sustainability in the future since potato is a highly nutritious food and it is considered as one of the most promising crops to reduce human hunger and poverty in the world due to its high yield potential. However, being a temperate crop, potato is exposed to various environmental stresses, including extended periods of drought and heat. The majority of potato genomics, transcriptomics, and transgenics studies concentrate on the characterization of molecular mechanisms governing cold hardiness of tubers and response and tolerance mechanisms against diseases. Likewise, potato breeding studies focus on increasing the yield, extending the postharvest storage, and developing cultivars that withstand biotic stresses. The number of genomics, transcriptomics, and transgenics studies of drought and heat tolerance in potato is limited, although they are necessary state-of-the-art research procedures to characterize and identify the regulatory mechanism underlying any stresses in order to develop new crop varieties that can tolerate harsh environmental conditions. For these reasons, this review focuses on recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, and transgenics of drought and heat tolerance in potato.