| Abstract
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Potato is a major part of the human diet in many countries of the world, providing substantial levels of carbohydrate, protein, and vitamins. This study examined the tuber protein content. In the first part of the research, total soluble protein (TSP) and patatin concentration were determined in periderm, cortex, and pith, in tubers of 20 important potato cultivars. TSP concentration was greater in periderm and lesser in cortex and pith tissues. Patatin was present in all tuber tissues but with the opposite pattern, less in periderm and greater in cortex and pith tissues. For intercultivar comparisons, a means of converting the specific tissue-based TSP and patatin data (dry weight) into a uniform weight whole tuber basis was developed. This relied on conversion factor values that were generated from percent weight tissue proportion and percent dry matter for each tissue layer. Cultivars with relatively more or less TSP and patatin in each tissue layer, and on a whole tuber basis, were identified. In the second part of the study, disassembly of chimeral (Russet Burbank) and putatively chimeral (Alpha, Bintje, Red Gold) tubers into their component genotypes was evaluated as a strategy for the production of intraclones with altered protein content. Explants were selected from tissue with greater or lesser protein levels and somatic embryogenesis was used to produce regenerants from each tissue source. Russeting was used as a phenotypic marker and TSP as a biochemical marker. Russet Burbank was confirmed as a periclinal chimera, although chimeral instability was evident, since some non-chimeral regenerants showed displacement of LI tunic cells with the russeting mutation into the pith. Red Gold was "uncovered" as an LII periclinal chimera (Red-Gold-Red). The value of chimeral disassembly in explaining an important component of somatic variation was clearly seen with this cultivar. The inconsistent TSP distribution in Russet Burbank intraclones proved that TSP was not distributed in a periclinal chimeral manner, as initially hypothesized. However, there was clear variation in protein content in the tubers of non-chimeral regenerants. Periclinal chimeral disassembly and somatic embryogenesis are potentially useful technologies for the production of improved intraclones of potato.
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