Researchers are creating heatwave-resistant potatoes to ensure crops can grow in a future impacted by climate change, stated a BBC report. In India, Kufri Surya variety of heat-tolerant potatoes have been around for a while, alongside other heat-tolerant potato varieties that have been developed to withstand the impacts of climate change.
Kufri Surya, originally developed for low-land tropics at the International Potato Centre, Lima Peru, is a hybrid variety that was initially planted on an experimental basis in the hills of Shimla. Later, their performance was monitored across six locations in India, following which the Indian government accepted it for release in 2005.
As per experts, Kufri Surya is meant for early (September) planting in north-western plains and for rabi and kharif plantings in peninsular India. It produces defect-free tubers that are suitable for processing into French fries and chips, as per the findings of the 2006 study published in the Potato Journal.
Kufri Kiran is a table potato variety developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI). According to experts, the Kufri Kiran variety should ideally be planted 15-20 days earlier than normal cycle in the sub-tropical North Indian plains and in the main season in plateau regions. It can produce up to 11 per cent higher tuber yield than other heat-tolerant varieties as per a 2003 study published in the Potato Journal.
Kufri Lima is another early maturing variety that is resistant to heat and disease. This heat-resistant potato variety has been developed by the Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), Kufri Lima in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP for its acronym in Spanish).
Researchers who have been developing this variety say that it has immense potential considering Kufri Lima can be planted 20-30 days earlier than other local varieties, which can lead to earlier harvests and premium prices as noted in studies published in Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences and International Potato Center. Farmers can accordingly expect higher returns as compared to traditional potato varieties, which have a relatively lower threshold for higher temperatures.
Heat-resistant Potatoes Being Developed in US
Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Essex reportedly carried out field trials in the US state of Illinois and found an adapted plant grew up to 30 per cent more potatoes under heat stress. To develop these heat-resistant potatoes, two genes were added which modified the plant's photorespiration process, leaving more energy for greater growth, as per a BBC report.
The study also found that there was no impact on the nutritional quality of the potato as a result of the genetic engineering. Researchers of the study, published in the Global Change Biology journal, pegged this as "a promising avenue for yield increases in the face of a warming planet." However, these findings are still being validated through further field trials.
The project, known as RIPE, was led by Dr Katherine Meacham-Hensold and involved researchers from both the University of Illinois and the University of Essex.
Dr Katherine Meacham-Hensold told BBC that the 30 per cent increase in tuber mass observed in their field trials demonstrates the potential of enhancing photosynthesis to create climate-resilient crops.
