Scientists from The James Hutton Institute promoted innovation at British Potato 2025
Scientists from The James Hutton Institute attended British Potato, the potato industry’s premier event on 19th and 20th November, where they showcased cutting-edge molecular innovations that were transforming the way breeders selected key traits, and explained why these innovations were essential for building a more resilient, productive and sustainable industry.
Scientists had been developing new molecular markers—specific DNA sequences used to identify particular traits or characteristics in plants—for resistance to potato cyst nematode (PCN), late blight and virus diseases, all of which posed significant challenges for growers and breeders alike.
The Hutton’s Head of Molecular Diagnostics, Dr Vanessa Young, said, “Molecular markers now sat at the core of modern breeding programmes, allowing breeders to screen for resistance genes without having to expose plants to disease. This not only saved time and resources but also helped breeders unravel the complex genetic control behind important traits, ultimately enabling smarter parental choices and more dynamic and effective cross-breeding programmes.”
At the time, the Hutton’s breeding programme used universally transferable KASP™ markers, developed in-house and commercialised by Hutton Scientific Services, the commercial arm of the Hutton. While KASPs remained a cost-effective alternative to traditional disease screening, scaling up across large early-generation breeding populations was still a limiting factor, meaning the method tended to be restricted to the later stages of breeding programmes.
The team was investing in MAXY-ID, a new high-throughput genotyping platform designed to automate DNA extraction and analysis and dramatically reduce the time and cost of testing, enabling thousands of clones to be screened at early breeding stages. It had the potential to become a game-changer across the entire crop science sector, including potato breeding.
The Hutton was internationally renowned for its potato science and remained the UK’s largest R&D centre for potatoes. Its National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC) worked in partnership with academics, industry and government in the UK and beyond to carry out scientific research to future-proof the potato industry and support economic resilience and growth. It developed solutions that helped ensure that potatoes remained a sustainable and profitable crop that provided nutritious food for all and supported the British economy.
Visitors to British Potato were also able to learn more about the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), housed at the Hutton. It was recognised as one of the world’s most valuable collections of potato genetic resources, capturing the full spectrum of natural potato diversity and harbouring vital genes for disease resistance, drought tolerance and climate resilience.
CPC Curator, Gaynor McKenzie, said, “At a time when climate change and evolving pest pressures threatened food security, the CPC’s genetic wealth had never been more valuable. Visitors were able to discover why this unique collection was a critical resource for breeding the potatoes of the future—and why its preservation mattered more than ever.”
