International Team Develops Model to Analyze Potato's Growth-Defense Trade-off

Scientists from the Universities of Potsdam and Erlangen, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, and the National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, have created potato-GEM, the first large-scale metabolic model of the potato genome. This model provides a comprehensive look at the potato's metabolism, particularly its secondary metabolism, which involves the creation of defense compounds.

The potato is one of the most important crops worldwide, but pests such as the Colorado potato beetle and viral infections can cause up to 80 percent of crop loss annually. Plants respond to these threats by slowing their growth to allocate resources toward defense mechanisms. Conversely, plants that grow rapidly are often more vulnerable to pests and pathogens because they prioritize growth over defense. This is known as the growth-defense trade-off.

Using the potato-GEM model, the team can analyze the molecular processes behind this trade-off. By understanding how the potato balances growth and defense, breeders can create new varieties with improved stress tolerance, higher yields, and better quality to combat food shortages caused by climate change and rising global population.

For more details, read the news article in the University of Potsdam News.