Behaviour of genetically modified amylose free potato clones as progenitors in a breeding program

Three amylose-free genetically modified potato clones were used both as male and female parents in a breeding program with non-GMO potato clones. Segregation data on the expression of the inserted antisense gene construct in tubers of progeny plants were in agreement with previous molecular analysis of the transgenic clones. The inheritance of the inserted genes was according to Mendelian segregation. Therefore, these clones can be very useful in a breeding program for large scale introduction of amylose free potato cultivars into agriculture. Because of varying number and expression levels of inserts in the GMO-clones, but also because of the varying strength of the endogenous GBSS-alleles of the non-GMO-clones, a segregation into a range of amylose contents occurred. The segregation of the starch colour after iodine staining of pollen of transgenic clones did not follow the obtained segregation in the progeny and was, therefore, not useful in predicting the breeding result.