Researchers at NRGene and Wageningen University & Research are working on
creating multi-genome mapping of commercial food potatoes. Potatoes are
known to be the fourth most consumed food crop globally.

Mapping the genome of potatoes is extremely difficult because it is an
auto-tetraploid, wherein each potato cell contains four nearly identical
copies of each chromosome and gene. To date, the researchers have completed
the phased assembly of three commercial potato varieties. According to
NRGene, the assembly is built of scaffolds with an N50 of 1.19 Mbp, less
than 0.89% unfilled gaps, and BUSCO results of 96.25%, 86% of which are
found in more than one copy.

Cracking the genomes of commercial food potatoes would help scientists
develop better varieties for farmers and consumers.

[www.nrgene.com]