Genomic data from the potato.

Available here is the genome of the potato (<em>Solanum tuberosum</em> L.), the first genome sequenced from the asterid clade. Potato is a member of the Solanaceae, a plant family that includes many other economically important species, such as tomato, petunia, eggplant, tobacco, and pepper. As the potato is both clonally propagated and the world;s most important non-grain food crop, its genome is a valuable agricultural resource.

The Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium sequenced two species: the heterozygous diploid <em>S. tuberosum</em> Group Tuberosum cultivar, RH89-039-16 (RH), and the doubled monoploid <em>S. tuberosum</em> Group Phureja clone DM1-3 516R44 (DM). The potato genome consists of 12 chromosomes, of which over 80% of the homozygous clones 844-megabase genome were assembled. Genome analysis revealed evidence of at least two genome duplication events and identified a number of asterid-specific genes. Comparison between the two clones identified frequent gene variations and mutations, which may cause inbreeding depression.