Molecular basis and diagnostics of complex traits in potato as an example for crop plants

Many traits that play important roles in plant breeding are complex, meaning that they are controlled by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Knowledge of the corresponding genes facilitates early diagnoses of complex traits and thereby increases the efficiency and precision of breeding new varieties of crop plants. To identify such genes, association-studies for complex traits of potato were conducted at the institute. Highly significant associations were identified between candidate genes and complex traits such as resistance to potato late blight disease.