Rooting For Resilience: Development and Salt Stress Response in True Potato Seed Roots

Samenvatting (Engelstalig)

Potato plants are important to the world as a staple crop, and their development from tubers is well-described. This research delved into how young potato plants grow from the botanical seeds (called True Potato Seed; TPS) instead. A major focus was to describe the physiological development of their root systems. Besides, various genotypes of TPS were screened for salinity response. Whilst some potato genotypes would grow normally, others would inhibit new root growth. By studying the molecular mechanisms underlying main root growth and branching in saline environments, we discovered new key players in this process. Overall, the fundamental insights into both the plant’s physiology and responses to salinity could help develop potatoes growing more resiliently in the future.