Phenotypic variability and genome-wide association studies in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for phosphorus efficiency

Potatoes require phosphorus (P) for growth, tuber production and starch quality, but their small and shallow root system limits the nutrient acquisition. This results in excessive use of mineral P fertilizers, leading to environmental concerns like eutrophication and economic concerns due to resource depletion. Thus, identifying potato genotypes with high P efficiency and understanding the underlying genes responsible for P deprivation tolerance are crucial for molecular breeding and crop improvement. The present study aims at exploring the phenotypic and genotypic variation among potato genotypes and identifying markers significantly associated with P deprivation tolerance. 200 potato accessions were screened for their response to P deprivation in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, genetic diversity study was conducted along with a genome wide association studies (GWAS) to marker trait associations for P efficiency traits.