NORFOLK, England — Field trials have begun for a genetically modified (GM) variety of potato resistant to “late blight,” carried out by The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) scientists and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), reports the BBC. The trial, which will be conducted on a 1,000-square-metre plot in Norfolk, is expected to last three years.
Late blight is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans and causes up to $5 billion annually in global crop losses.
Jonathan Jones, senior scientist, TSL, said genes taken from two different wild potato species were used to develop a GM Desiree variety, conferring the ability to recognize strains of the blight pathogen. TSL expects a successful GM potato to drastically reduce fungicide use on potato crops.
Initial results from the field trial are expected to be published by the end of the year.