Molecular Mechanisms of Dual Potato Reproduction

Abstract

Changing environmental conditions caused by global warming threaten potato cultivation due to its sensitivity to both heat and drought. Unfortunately, classic potato breeding is slow to generate varieties that, whereas maintaining good yields, are resistant to unfavourable climatic conditions. Therefore, attempts are underway to create new potato varieties that can be grown from true seeds. However, this requires knowledge of flowering regulation in potatoes, because many cultivars that could be valuable parental lines do not flower. Although the molecular mechanisms regulating tuberisation are well-characterised, our knowledge concerning flowering in potato is scarce. In this review, based on existing data for Solanaceae plants, we propose that the CONSTANS-mediated photoperiodic regulatory pathway has been hijacked and adapted by the tuberisation process. We also indicate that potato plants have acquired alternative endogenous pathways related to plant ageing, sucrose availability or gibberellin signalling to induce flowering. We anticipate that, upon further experimental verification, the proposed mechanism may contribute to future progress in potato breeding and propagation.