Cisgenic Potatoes with Improved Late Blight Resistance (Agroscope)
Late blight is the most important disease affecting potatoes worldwide. It is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Researchers at Wageningen University (NL) have used genetic engineering methods to transfer genes that confer resistance to this disease from wild potatoes into two potato varieties. Agroscope studied whether the resistance thereby introduced was effective in the field under the local conditions in Switzerland.
Progression of the Project
The permit for the field trial requested by Agroscope was granted by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) in April 2015. From 2015 to 2019, a field trial was conducted annually. The monitoring of the former trial areas was completed in 2022.
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Protected Site - Site for Field Trials of Genetically Modified Plants
Agroscope is operating a protected field site at the location Reckenholz (Zurich) to enable field experiments with genetically modified plants in Switzerland. The aim of those experiments is to identify the potential and the limitations of green gene technology.
Growing Potato Plants - Healthy vs. Diseased
Late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is the most devastating disease affecting potatoes. Without protective measures, fields with susceptible potato varieties can be completely destroyed within a few days.
Potatoes
Certification - Variety Study - Production Techniques