Development and application of protein markers for heat tolerance screening in potato

Heat stress (HS) represents one of the most important limiting factors to crop productivity worldwide. As a result of global warming, potato yield losses of 10-26% are predicted for the region of Southeast Europe, including Serbia, in the next 30 years. These losses can be reduced on 5-11% with adaptation in production methods concerning use of heat tolerant cultivars. The scope of proposed project comprises development and application of protein markers for fast and efficient heat tolerance screening of potato cultivars. Our project proposes utilization of stress proteins (HSP 18CI, HSP 18CII, HSP 21, HSP 101, EF-Tu, EF-1?) related to HS-tolerance and heat-labile proteins (RCA and starch synthase), as a protein markers.The investigation will include qualitative and quantitative analysis of proposed protein markers in plantlets grown under HS, as well as determination of morphometric parameters (in vitro) and yield parameters (field trials) of potato cultivars under HS. Results of protein marker quantitative analysis will be correlated with morphometric parameters and yield parameters for each of examined genotypes using adequate statistical methods and an optimal combination of protein markets will be selected. Our expectations are that proposed project will result in biotechnological solution for protein marker assisted screening for heat tolerance in potato and identification of HS tolerant potato cultivars suitable for growing in Serbia under changed climate conditions.