Reviving forgotten treasures: a conservation effort for endangered Solanum tuberosum cultivars

The “RESToRE” Project (REcovery and valorization of traditional Solanum tuberosum varieties at Risk of Extinction) was funded by the Piedmont Region (Italy) and focuses on recovering, characterizing, and preserving traditional Italian potato landraces/cultivars at risk of extinction. The project aims to enhance the phytosanitary aspects of these genotypes, preserving disease-free tubers while maintaining their unique traits. The valorization of the restored genetic material may enhance the competitiveness of local genetic resources. In this study, we assembled a collection of local Italian potato cultivars, comprising 21 accessions from diverse locations across seven Italian regions. To characterize this germplasm set, we employed Genotype-by-sequencing technology (GBS), which facilitated the high-throughput generation of sequencing data and enabled the identification of genetic polymorphisms and similarities among accessions. This comprehensive approach aims to conserve this unique genetic heritage, contributing not only to biodiversity conservation but also to the potential enhancement of local agricultural competitiveness on a broader scale.