Cultivar loss and conservation of genetic resources of the phureja potato (Solanum phureja L., Phureja Group) in Peru

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Solanum tuberosum L. Phureja Group, known in Peru as ‘phureja potato’ or ‘chaucha potato’ and as ‘criolla’ in Colombia, is characterized by its earliness and the absence of dormancy in the tubers. It stands out for its nutritional value and its contribution to food security. However, it faces a high risk of disappearance in Peru. This study assessed its current status by collecting historical data, ex situ and in situ conservation analyses, and genetic erosion studies in local communities. Historical information suggests that phureja was relevant and abundant in the past. Currently, ex situ collections include 69 accessions, of which the International Potato Center conserves a significant portion. As for in situ conservation, 116 accessions have been identified. However, since 1992, genetic erosion has been documented in six departments of Peru. The main causes include: lack of time for continuous cultivation, prioritization of dairy farming, low seed quality, preference for more commercial modern or traditional cultivars, and the expansion of mining projects. The critical situation of the phureja potato requires urgent measures to collect new information and evaluate the remaining genetic variability. This assessment is essential to develop conservation and sustainability strategies to ensure its survival and its contribution to Peru's food and cultural well-being.

Agro-morphological and molecular characterization of Argentine maize (Zea mays L.) landraces of ‘Cristalino Colorado’ race

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the high variability of Argentine maize (Zea mays L.) landraces, they are scarcely used by breeders due to the limited knowledge available about the genetic merit of these materials. In this study, we evaluated agro-morphological and molecular traits of 36 landraces of the ‘Cristalino Colorado’ race from Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Fifteen agro-morphological traits and five polymorphic microsatellite markers located on different chromosomes (48 alleles) were used. A principal component analysis was performed using average values of agro-morphological traits across two environments. Molecular markers were subjected to a principal coordinate analysis. A generalized procrustes analysis was used to evaluate agro-morphological and molecular traits together, showing seven groups. Distance between agro-morphological and molecular data had an average value of 0.24 and the range varied between 0.02 (ARZM01017) and 0.45 (ARZM01082). The results show that Argentine landraces of the ‘Cristalino Colorado’ race are a valuable source of new alleles for crop improvement. Studies of this type facilitate the selection of landraces for introduction in genetic breeding programmes and for the establishment of core collections.

Genetic Resources

Cultivar loss and conservation of genetic resources of the phureja potato (Solanum phureja L., Phureja Group) in Peru

Agro-morphological and molecular characterization of Argentine maize (Zea mays L.) landraces of ‘Cristalino Colorado’ race