Wageningen, The Netherlands
April 15, 2009

The Plant Sciences department of Wageningen UR will apply KeyGene’s ‘Whole Genome Profiling’ technology to construct a high quality physical map of potato. The physical map is a powerful tool for Wageningen UR to develop a superior genome sequence assembly for potato together with the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium.

The Whole Genome Profiling (WGP) technology delivers an excellent framework for the assembly of entire genomes. Because the technology is sequence-based, the WGP framework can be used to establish a high quality genome sequence.

Potato is the fourth most important food crop in the world with a current annual global production of 300 million tones of which 80% is grown in Asia and Europe. Wageningen UR is the coordinator of the international Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium. Its primary objective is to elucidate the complete DNA sequence of the potato genome (850 Mbp) by the end of 2010. The project is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Richard Visser, chair of Plant Breeding, at the dept. of Plant Sciences, WUR. Application of the newest technologies for sequencing and physical mapping is crucial for reaching this goal. By sequencing the complete potato genome, reaching the world's food future needs will be a step closer.

Christian Bachem, project leader at Wageningen UR, “Especially in a complex crop like potato the quality of the physical map will determine the quality of the sequence of the complete potato genome”. He adds: “The collaboration with KeyGene will help us to reach our objectives faster and deliver a high quality genome sequence that will form the basis for future potato research”.

Edwin van der Vossen – head of KeyGene’s Field Crop unit: “We have demonstrated the performance and value of Whole Genome Profiling in several vegetable crops with genome sizes ranging from 450 – 2,600 Mbp. We are pleased that the long term collaboration between the Wageningen UR Plant Sciences department and KeyGene now allows us to apply our Whole Genome Profiling technology to potato”.

Keygene N.V. is a R&D company with the mission to be the leading company in developing and applying DNA expertise in the field of molecular genetics with a focus on crop plants. In recent years KeyGene invested in next generation sequencing platforms to support its leading position in the field of plant molecular breeding and developed new enabling technologies. KeyGene exploits its proprietary technologies, databases and know-how through strategic alliances, contract research and products for applications in the plant breeding industry. KeyGene has a subsidiary in Rockville Maryland, USA and a Joint Lab at the Shanghai Institute of Biological Sciences in Shanghai, China. In total KeyGene employs 130 researchers and staff.

Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR), is an internationally leading education and research organization. Its ambition is to contribute significantly to the quality of life worldwide.

Website: http://www.wur.nl

Published: April 15, 2009