A new potato variety called CIP-Matilde, developed by the International Potato Center (CIP) with support from the Crop Trust, is an interesting example of the use of wild crop relatives in breeding.
Late blight can be controlled with agrochemicals, but millions of farmers cannot afford to apply them as often as necessary, resulting in about $ 14 billion in annual crop losses. In mountainous areas, wet conditions favor the spread of late blight, and scientists predict that the risk of contracting the disease will only increase from year to year as the climate gradually changes.
CIP-Matilde is a breeding product in which wild potatoes were crossed with cultivated ones in order to obtain a viable late blight-resistant variety. The new variety was named after the scientist Matilda Orrillo, who first used wild potatoes at the International Potato Center (CIP) in the 1980s.
Wild potato relatives are able to withstand stresses such as extreme heat and drought. By crossing cultivated potatoes with wild ones, these traits can be passed on to the offspring and resistant samples taken. This variety was developed quite quickly, as the CIP involved farmers in the trial process at an early stage. Five samples were chosen, the best of which was CIP-Matilde.
This variety is especially suitable for Peru, where it will be promoted in the coming years.