Gene editing targets for Colorado potato beetle resistance in cultivated potato
Research collaboration to develop potato varieties resistant to Colorado potato beetle using gene editing of leptine glycoalkaloid biosynthesis pathway genes. The approach recapitulates natural resistance from wild Solanum chacoense without introgressing unadapted traits, reducing dependence on insecticides.
Overview
This project targets Colorado potato beetle resistance in cultivated potato through gene editing of biosynthetic and regulatory genes in the leptine glycoalkaloid biosynthesis pathway. The approach leverages natural resistance mechanisms found in the wild species Solanum chacoense while avoiding the burden of unadapted agronomic traits that traditional cross-breeding introduces. Developing resistant potato varieties addresses a major agricultural pest that currently requires routine insecticide application, reducing both environmental risk and economic hardship for growers.
Technical specifications
Research approach:
- Bi-parental linkage mapping and bulk segregant whole genome sequencing in 233 Solanum chacoense F2 individuals identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosomes 2, 4, 6, 7, and 12 associated with beetle resistance
- Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of parental lines and F2 individuals identified candidate genes within these resistance-associated regions
- Cultivated potato has been transformed to constitutively express Cas9, enabling gene editing through de novo induction of meristems
- Stacked overexpression lines will be rapidly created in cultivated potato backgrounds to assess candidate gene contributions to beetle resistance
- Field evaluation of gene-edited lines under natural pest pressure
Key innovation:
The de novo meristem induction approach accelerates the generation of gene-edited potato lines compared to conventional tissue culture methods, enabling faster validation of candidate gene function in the leptine biosynthesis pathway.
Technology readiness level
This research is at an advanced validation stage. Genetic mapping and candidate gene identification have been completed, and the gene editing platform (Cas9-expressing potato) is established. The project is approximately one year from completion, with upcoming field validation of stacked overexpression lines. The team is seeking partnership support for optimization of gene-edited line screening and funding for key personnel to advance this work toward deployable resistant varieties.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a major public land‑grant research university with a comprehensive academic portfolio and a large research enterprise. Industry partners engage through an on‑campus U.S. Department of Energy national user facility and shared core laboratories with user access. The university provides a chemical process scale‑up pilot plant on Michigan’s lakeshore, a research and technology park, and a Grand Rapids health innovation campus linking researchers with clinical partners. A statewide extension network supports field deployment and workforce training across Michigan’s manufacturing corridor. Research is backed by competitive federal funding from NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA, and DoD, while dedicated tech transfer and corporate engagement teams—supported by an affiliated research foundation—accelerate IP, licensing, startups, and sponsored research.
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