Germany has embarked on an ambitious research programme to decode the genetic material of 6,357 potato varieties stored in the national gene bank, marking one of the largest undertakings in potato genomics to date.

The initiative, known as POMORROW – Potatoes for Tomorrow, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and brings together five research institutes and three plant breeding companies. The aim is to accelerate the development of resilient potato varieties by linking genetic information to agronomic traits such as pest resistance, nutrient efficiency, and stress tolerance.

Researchers plan to sequence selected DNA segments across all accessions, while a core collection will represent the crop’s overall genetic diversity. Full genome sequencing will be conducted on ten representative strains. The resulting dataset will underpin predictive models to guide breeding programmes.

At the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI MP) in Potsdam, scientists are focusing on drought resilience. Their trials examine how potato accessions interact with mycorrhizal fungi, which can improve nutrient uptake and tolerance to stress. Growth responses under different irrigation levels are being measured with laser scanners to pinpoint varieties capable of maintaining yields under water scarcity.

“Field trials on potato varieties show that mycorrhizal fungi can help plants to absorb nutrients more efficiently and better cope with stress. We now want to test this in a genetically diverse group to find parents for the potato varieties of the future,” said Prof. Dr. Caroline Gutjahr, Director of MPI MP, who leads the research with Dr. Karin Köhl.

The POMORROW consortium includes the Julius Kühn Institute, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), MPI MP, and Hochschule Geisenheim University (HGU). Industry participants are SaKa Pflanzenzucht GmbH & Co. KG, Europlant Innovation GmbH & Co. KG, Norika GmbH, and the Gemeinschaft zur Förderung von Pflanzeninnovation e.V. (GFPi).